Why do males stay in biparental burying beetles?

What is it about?

The reasons why a second parent stays and provides care for offspring when one parent seems sufficient has puzzled biologists for a long time. Burying beetles provide extensive biparental care including regurgitating food to offspring, nest maintenance and defending the brood. We examined the ability of single females and pairs of Nicrophorus defodiens to rear offspring while an intruder was present. Pairs were more successful than single females in protecting their young, and they also raised more offspring on larger resources. We suggest that male burying beetles stay with their partner only because rivals threaten to kill offspring and/or mate with their partner. Without the threat from rivals, we speculate that the extensive care given by males to their offspring would not have evolved.

Featured Image