Nicrophorus vespillo

Common Gravedigger ( Nicrophorus vespillo )

The Common Gravedigger ( Nicrophorus vespillo ) is a beetle of the family of carrion beetles ( Silphidae ).

Features

The beetles reach a body length of 12 to 22 millimeters and have a black colored body. The wing covers ( elytra ) carry two eye-catching red and yellow bands with a zigzag edge. These bands are usually, especially the further back tape, isolated in two spots. The bands may be only weak, then the first is very narrow and reduces further back to a small spot. Rarely there are also quite black specimens. The elytra bear on the front and rear edge long bright yellow hair, and the pronotum bears on the front edge of a pale yellowish pubescence. Likewise, the side edge of the belly and the hips of the hind legs and rails on the outside are hairy. The antennae are black. Unlike the similar Schwarzhörnigen gravedigger ( Nicrophorus vespilloides ) the sensor lobe is colored red to the first black member, rarely, there are also individuals whose sensor lobe is completely black.

Similar Species

• Schwarzhörniger gravedigger ( Nicrophorus vespilloides )

Dissemination and lifestyle

The animals are found in the Palearctic and spread north to the south of Norway and by the middle of Sweden and Finland. They are also home to the British Isles. The type is the most common of the genus in Central Europe. It is found mainly on small carcasses.