CARRION BEETLE RESEARCH
What are Carrion Beetles?
Carrion beetles are among the most important, but least recognized insects in Northern Michigan's ecosystems. By locating and consuming dead animals, these beetles rapidly recycle nutrients back into the soil, helping maintain healthy forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Their activities reduce the spread of disease, improve soil fertility, and support countless other organisms that depend on nutrient-rich ecosystems. Several species, particularly burying beetles in the genus Nicrophorus, provide remarkable parental care by burying small carcasses underground and raising their young on this carefully prepared food source—one of the most sophisticated forms of parental behavior found among insects. Because carrion beetles are closely tied to habitat quality and natural ecological processes, they also serve as valuable indicators of ecosystem health. Despite their ecological importance, carrion beetles remain one of the least studied insect groups in Michigan, leaving major gaps in our understanding of their distribution, diversity, and conservation needs. Documenting these species is essential not only for protecting individual beetle populations, but also for understanding the health and resilience of Northern Michigan's ecosystems.
Our Research
Sleeping Bear Wildlife Fund is conducting the first comprehensive survey of carrion beetles in Northern Michigan while searching for the federally endangered American burying beetle, a species not confirmed in Michigan for decades. Using non-lethal trapping methods, this research will document beetle diversity, identify suitable habitats, and determine whether the endangered species may still exist in the region. The findings will establish important baseline data to guide future monitoring, habitat conservation, and potential recovery efforts. Regardless of whether the species is detected, the project will provide the first regional baseline dataset on carrion beetle communities, identify priority conservation areas, and establish the scientific foundation needed to guide future monitoring, habitat management, and, if appropriate, recovery and potential reintroduction efforts for one of North America's most endangered insects.
Education Outreach
Sleeping Bear Wildlife Fund works with local organizations, schools, and community programs to engage community members in carrion beetle research through hands-on data collection and citizen science opportunities. These partnerships help expand our understanding of local beetle populations and habitats while raising awareness about the endangered American burying beetle. We also create species identification guides and educational materials to help students, volunteers, and community members recognize carrion beetles, contribute valuable observations, and support ongoing conservation efforts.
More Guide Materials Coming Soon.
This work is done in partnership with:
This work is supported by:
