Beetles that receive less care as larvae may become better parents

Beetles that obtain much less care from their dad and mom spend extra time caring for their very own offspring.

Roundneck sexton beetles (Nicrophorus orbicollis), a sort of burying beetle, bury the our bodies of small animals and feed their larvae by releasing flesh-digesting enzymes into the carcass. They also can regurgitate digested meat immediately into the mouths of their younger.

Christopher Cunningham on the University of Georgia and his colleagues needed to know whether or not the parental care these beetles obtain as larvae impacts how they feed their …