Life Cycle
N. orbicollis is an endopterygote with complete metamorphosis; the life cycle consists of an egg, larval, pupal, and adult stage. Male and female beetles are attracted to carrion for reproduction and feeding. Male N. orbicollis attract females by emitting pheromones but they will only do so when a carcass is present. After mating, the female will lay her eggs from about 12–48 hours after discovering a suitable carcass. Eggs hatch around 56 hours after oviposition. Once larvae complete development they pupate in the soil in 6–8 days. The size of a carcass affects the time span an egg is laid to when the larvae disperse and so also affects the time frame the parent beetles spend taking care of their young. In general, the time spent from egg burial to larval dispersal is less on smaller carcasses. N. orbicollis males will also spend less time taking care of their offspring when on small carcasses. Larvae of most silphid species are dependent upon parental feeding but can sometimes feed directly from a carcass. N. orbicollis larvae, however, are extremely dependent upon their parents for feeding and will die before they develop to the second instar without parental care. Offspring mass is positively correlated with longer maternal care. N. orbicollis is nocturnal and must compete with dipterous larvae for oviposition locations on carcasses.
Read more about this topic: Nicrophorus Orbicollis
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