American Burying Beetle vs Texas Striped Sweat Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute American Burying Beetle Texas Striped Sweat Bee
Scientific Name Nicrophorus americanus Agapostemon texanus
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Silphidae Halictidae
Size 25-35 mm 9-11 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Carrion Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions North America North America, Central America
Conservation Threatened Least Concern

American Burying Beetle

The largest carrion beetle in North America, once widespread but now reduced to less than 10% of its historic range. Both parents cooperate in burying small animal carcasses for their larvae.

💡

Did You Know?

Burying beetle parents are among the most devoted insect parents — both mother and father feed their larvae pre-digested carrion, respond to begging calls, and defend the brood.

Texas Striped Sweat Bee

A widespread metallic green sweat bee found across much of North America. Males have distinctive black and yellow abdominal stripes contrasting with their green thorax.

💡

Did You Know?

Males often gather in sleeping clusters on plant stems at dusk, gripping with their mandibles and hanging motionless overnight.