Black burying beetle

It coats a dead mouse in special spit that keeps it from going bad too fast.

A mum and dad beetle work together to bury the food, and the mum lays her eggs right next to it.

Both parents stay with their babies to protect and feed them, which is rare for insects.

It often carries tiny mites on its body. The mites ride along and eat fly eggs, which helps the beetle's babies.

Other burying beetles in North America have patterns on their wing covers, but this one is all black.