Endangered American Burying Beetles to be Released
at the
Wilds June 24
Cumberland, Ohio (June 19, 2008) – As part of a new phase
of a federal program, 300 American burying beetles are set to
be released at the Wilds on June 24, an effort to reintroduce
populations of this endangered species to secure, natural environments.
Partners involved in the project include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the Ohio State University’s
Department of Entomology, the St. Louis Zoo, and the Wilds.
“We are extremely pleased to be part of an important program
involving national partnerships working together for species
survival,” said Dr. Evan Blumer, Executive Director of
the Wilds.
The American burying beetle was designated a federally endangered
species in 1989 – the first insect species to be so recognized.
“Reintroduction of American burying beetle into the Great
Lakes Region, which Ohio is a part of, has been identified as
an important action that will contribute to the recovery of this
species and its eventual removal from the federal list of threatened
and endangered species,” said Sarena Selbo, an endangered
species biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
“We have a unique situation here at the Wilds by being
both a breeding facility and release site,” said Blumer. “We
have both the expertise in animal management and the appropriate
geography to provide high quality habitat for the species.”
American burying beetles are about 1 to 1.5 inches in length
with orange and black bodies, and feed on dead animals, or carrion,
as larvae and adults.
This beetle species was historically found in 35 states, including
Ohio, and several Canadian provinces. The beetles’ population
decline has been attributed to pesticides, loss of habitat and
habitat fragmentation, light pollution, and competition with
other carrion feeders.
“In Ohio, we are fortunate to have many dedicated partners
working toward recovery of the American burying beetle,” said
Selbo. “As one such partner, starting this year the Wilds
will provide a protected release location for this species.”
Remnant populations of the American burying beetle presently
occur only in eastern parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South
Dakota, and on Block Island, Rhode Island.
Breeding programs for the American burying beetle are taking
place at the St. Louis Zoo, the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence,
R.I., the Ohio State University, and at the Wilds. The St. Louis
program is in its fifth year, and the Wilds’ program is
in its first year.
“The 150 pairs of beetles being released at the Wilds
are from the St. Louis Zoo, to give more time for our younger
colony to grow before their release,” said Dan Beetem,
Director of Animal Management at the Wilds.
The beetle release process involves digging holes, or plugs,
at specially selected sites, placing a quail carcass and a pair
of tagged beetles in each cavity, and re-covering the plugs.
This process simulates a natural setting for the beetles’ life
cycle.
The plug sites will then be monitored for signs of breeding
activity by checking for larvae and, later, new adult beetles.
“These beetles have fascinating behaviors and life cycles,” said
Adam Davis, the Animal Management Specialist at the Wilds who
oversees the daily care of the beetles.
The largely nocturnal beetles are able to sense a fresh carcass
from two miles using their olfactory antennae. Once males arrive
at the carcass, they send out pheromones to attract females,
and a battle for the carcass ensues. The largest male and female
usually “win,” and, using their legs while lying
on their backs, move the carcass to a burial chamber.
After the carcass burial, the beetles mate, and the female lays
eggs in the soil near the carcass. The adults eat the carrion
and regurgitate food to the emerging larvae. When the larvae
mature, the adults move to the top of the soil and leave the
chamber. The new generation of beetles emerges from the carcass
cavity about 45-60 days later. This process is repeated during
the beetles’ one-year life span.
The last officially recorded American burying beetle in Ohio
was found in Hocking County in 1974.
“The Wilds became involved in the beetle propagation project
with the partnering agencies several years ago,” said Beetem. “We
began the development of a captive colony at the Wilds with the
arrival of 12 beetles from the Ohio State University colony in
September 2007.”
Since then, the Wilds’ colony has hatched over 100 beetles.
Beetles from the Wilds’ colony will be used for future
releases.
Representatives from all the partnering agencies will be at
the June 24 beetle release set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Wilds.
Situated on nearly 10,000 acres in southeast Ohio, the Wilds
is one of the largest conservation centers in North America.
It is open to visitors on select days May through October.
The mission of the Wilds, an independent, nonprofit organization,
is to advance conservation through science, education, and personal
experience. For more information, visit www.thewilds.org or call
740-638-5030.
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