Beetles

Sexton beetles (Nicrophorus vespilloides), also known as burying beetles (Nicrophorus spp.), are fascinating insects recognized for their unique parental care and important role as decomposers. Using their keen sense of smell, they locate small dead animals such as birds or rodents.

Once they find a carcass, a male and female work together to bury it underground, removing fur or feathers and coating it with antibacterial secretions to slow decay. The female lays her eggs on or near the carcass, and when the larvae hatch, they feed on it as well as on regurgitated food provided by both parents. This level of parental care is rare among insects.

Sexton beetles play a vital role in recycling nutrients and reducing disease by disposing of carcasses that might otherwise attract pests. Their black bodies, often marked with bright orange or red patches, make them easy to recognize, and their chemical secretions are being studied for potential medical and preservation uses.

Dasytes plumbeus is a small, metallic-grey beetle belonging to the family commonly known as soft-winged flower beetles. Measuring about 4 to 6 millimetres in length, this species is often found on flowers from late spring through summer, where adults feed on pollen and nectar. They are most frequently seen on blossoms such as buttercups, daisies, and roses, contributing modestly to pollination.

The beetle’s fine, soft hairs give it a slightly dusty or “plumbeous” (lead-grey) appearance, which inspired its name.

Larvae of Dasytes plumbeus live in decaying wood or leaf litter, where they prey on small insects and help decompose organic material. Native to much of Europe, this beetle is common in sunny meadows, woodland edges, and gardens. Though easily overlooked due to its small size, Dasytes plumbeus plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and supporting healthy plant-pollinator ecosystems.

Winter firefly (Ellychnia corrusca) is an unusual North American firefly that breaks many expectations people have about lightning bugs. Unlike the familiar summer species that flash glowing signals on warm evenings, the winter firefly is active mainly during cooler months and does not produce visible light as an adult. Its dark, elongated body and reddish-orange collar help distinguish it from many other beetles.

Adults are often seen crawling on tree trunks, fence posts, or wooden structures from autumn through early spring, especially on mild winter days. Rather than feeding on insects, they commonly drink sap from trees such as maples and oaks. Because they remain active during cold weather, they can sometimes even be found walking across snow.

The larvae, however, are believed to be faintly bioluminescent and live hidden in leaf litter or decaying wood, where they prey on soft-bodied invertebrates like snails and worms. This contrast between glowing larvae and non-glowing adults is unusual among fireflies.

Winter fireflies are harmless to people and are considered beneficial members of forest ecosystems, helping recycle nutrients and contributing to the diversity of woodland habitats.

The Black-spotted lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) is one of North America’s native lady beetles and is especially well known across Canada and the western United States. Its bright red or orange wing covers are marked with distinct black spots and bands, creating a bold warning pattern that helps discourage predators. Although it is smaller and less famous than the introduced seven-spotted lady beetle, it plays an important ecological role in forests, meadows, gardens, and agricultural fields.

Like many lady beetles, the black-spotted lady beetle is a voracious predator of aphids, scale insects, and other soft-bodied pests. Both the adults and larvae feed heavily on these insects, making the species valuable to farmers and gardeners as a natural form of pest control. A single beetle can consume dozens of aphids in a day.

Its life cycle includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larvae look surprisingly fierce, with elongated dark bodies covered in tiny spines. During winter, adults often gather beneath bark, leaf litter, or rocks to hibernate until warmer spring temperatures return. In some regions, populations have declined due to habitat change and competition from introduced lady beetle species.

The Raspberry beetle (Byturus tomentosus) iis a small, fuzzy brown beetle best known for its close relationship with raspberries and other cane fruits. Native to Europe and now found in parts of North America, it is only about 4 millimetres long, yet it can have an outsized effect on berry crops. Adult beetles emerge in spring just as raspberry plants begin flowering, feeding on buds, blossoms, pollen, and young fruit.

The beetle’s larvae are the stage most familiar to gardeners. Tiny cream-coloured grubs sometimes develop inside ripening raspberries, where they feed among the drupelets. Because the larvae are hidden within the fruit, people occasionally discover them only after harvesting berries. Despite this reputation, the species is also part of a wider ecological story involving pollination, plant timing, and predator-prey relationships in berry thickets.

One unusual feature of the raspberry beetle is its fine golden hairs, which give it a velvety appearance in sunlight. Adults are surprisingly active fliers and can quickly locate flowering raspberry patches over considerable distances. Their life cycle is tightly synchronized with raspberry blooming seasons, showing how precisely some insects evolve alongside particular plants. In colder climates, the larvae pupate in the soil and overwinter there before emerging the following spring.