Common Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespillo

Having a vernacular name and scientific name that are both similar to those of Common Sexton Beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides is open to confusion.

Common Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespillo, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 17th October 2019

Common Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespillo, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 31st July 2020

Common Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespillo, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 11th August 2022

I don't get many of these to light in my garden - investigator is far more regular here. However on this night two were attracted to light, however I suspect they were first attracted to a dead shrew was close to the moth trap. Indeed they were seen on the shrew at the start of the night, and found in the moth trap at the end of the night.

2-3x Common Burying Beetles Nicrophorus vespillo, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 3rd August 2025

I had this one down as investigator originally, presumably because the near side of the pronotum appears to be bare and you can't see the curve on the near hind tibia. However looking at the photo again more recently I was struck by the hairiness of the elytra and the extent of gap between the upper orange bands, and wondered if my identification might not be correct. Looking more closely I can see that the far side of the pronotum does indeed have golden hairs and the far hind tibia does appear to be curved, so vespillo it is.

Nicrophorus vespillo, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 26th July 2019

Nicrophorus vespillo, Panford Beck, Brisley (Norfolk, UK), 3rd July 2025

Common Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespillo, Bawdeswell (Norfolk, UK), 26th July 2008