Nicrophorus germanicus

Nicrophorus germanicus

Nicrophorus germanicus is a native beetle species in Eurasia. It is the largest European species of the genus gravedigger ( Nicrophorus ).

Features

Nicrophorus germanicus reaches a body length of 20 to 30 mm, making it one of the major species of beetle in Europe. His body, in particular the wing covers ( elytra ) and the neck plate is colored black in most cases; very rare varieties have one or two blood-red spots on the elytra, at the top and front of the center thereof, to be united in transverse bands. As with all types of gravediggers its elytra are truncated. Their Epipleuren are reddish brown and the head shield membrane reddish. This distinguishes it from the similar Black gravedigger ( Nicrophorus humator ) whose Epipleuren are black. Other features that divides Nicrophorus germanicus with the Asian species Nicrophorus morio and Nicrophorus satanas, the widened tibiae of the middle legs, the wide antenna beam and the shape of the last segment of the abdomen, which is about half as long as wide. Of the two species Nicrophorus germanicus must be distinguished above all by the color and bristling of the Epipleuren.

Similar Species

• Black gravedigger ( Nicrophorus humator )
• Nicrophorus morio
• Nicrophorus satanas

Dissemination

The beetle is widespread in much of Europe and northern Asia. The range extends from southern Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, France and Northern Italy through central and eastern Europe to central Russia ( the Urals ), Turkey, Georgia and Armenia.

Way of life

Like all gravedigger lives this kind of carrion and uses carcasses to be buried by him, as a nesting beach. It is Nicrophorus germanicus commonly found on larger carcasses, about rats or rabbits.