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Why do burying beetles bury small dead animals?

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Coleoptera African goliath beetle (*Goliathus giganteus*).

Burying beetles (family Silphidae, especially genus Nicrophorus) bury small dead animals, such as mice or small birds, to provide a protected and concentrated food source for their developing larvae.12

By digging the ground out from under a carcass, these beetles are able to sink it into the soil. This behavior serves several purposes:1
* Resource Provisioning: The buried carcass acts as a dedicated food supply for the beetle's offspring.2
* Protection: Burying the remains helps conceal the food source from competitors and scavengers.
* Development: Once the larvae emerge from eggs deposited on or near the carcass, they feed on the decaying matter, often supplemented by a nutrient-rich liquid regurgitated by the parents.1

This behavior is a specialized form of brood care, ensuring that the next generation has immediate access to the necessary nutrition required for their growth.12