Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle

Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle

Nicrophorus vespilloides

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Białowieża National Park

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

13 Verified sightings at Białowieża National Park From 2019 to 2026
139 In all 7 parks
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle

Nicrophorus vespilloides is a burying beetle described by Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst in 1783. The beetles vary widely in size and can present with a range of anywhere from 12 mm to 20 mm in size. They have two conspicuous orange-yellow bands on the elytra. The color of the antennae are an important distinguishing feature, being totally black. The color of their orange and black markings is multifunctional, as they are conspicuous to avian predators. In general, they present a unique ecological niche, which is their evolution of aposematism, or the strategy they use to warn predators through their conspicuous signals. The wing cases of these beetles possess a squarish shape and are notably shorter in length than their abdomens, indicating a distinct physical characteristic of the species.

Overall, there are reported differences in coloration and chemical defenses among the sexes. This is hypothesized to stem from conflicting selection pressures for the different sexes. They also produce anal fluid or exudate from their abdomen when they feel threatened. These anal fluids further contribute to the antimicrobial defense of these beetles.

These insect species boast... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~20%
2 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
3 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
4 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
5 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
~10%
6 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
7 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Manchester 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
2 Munich 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
3 Helsinki 🇫🇮 Finland
<5%
4 Copenhagen 🇩🇰 Denmark
<5%
5 Hamburg 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
6 Kyiv 🇺🇦 Ukraine
<5%
7 Moscow 🇷🇺 Russia
<5%
8 Saint Petersburg 🇷🇺 Russia
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle in Białowieża National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle sighting in Białowieża National Park on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 45th most-seen of the 158 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle in Białowieża National Park?

June and September

In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle in Białowieża National Park on a given day, against under 5% in October to March, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle?

Between noon and 3 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Białowieża National Park the best place to see a Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle?

Yes

Of the 7 parks where we can rate Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle sightings, Białowieża National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Cairngorms National Park (United Kingdom, about 20%) and Snowdonia National Park (United Kingdom, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle live in Białowieża National Park?

Same family: Staphylinidae

The closest relatives of the Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle that you can see in Białowieża National Park (family Staphylinidae, Rove Beetles) are Red-Breasted Carrion Beetle (about 30%) and Black Snail Beetle (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Lesser Vespillo Burying Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Białowieża National Park (13 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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