Diet
The diet of the N. tomentosus consists of small vertebrate animals. These include and are not limited to rats, moles, voles, and other rodents that the parents happen to find. Once the body is found the male and female remove any hair or feathers and roll the carcass into a ball. In order to preserve the carcass it is sprayed with a secretion from the anus because size and condition of the carcass determines how many eggs can be laid. The young eat regurgitated food from both parents and straight from the carcass. While feeding, the parents will protect the young from competitors and other burying beetles. The female will stay until the larvae are fully developed and then leave for another carcass.
Read more about this topic: Nicrophorus Tomentosus
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