American Burying Beetle

Also known as the giant carrion beetle, the American burying beetle is a large species of beetle endemic to North America. There is controversy surrounding the conservation status of this species, as it has recently been downlisted from endangered to threatened due to protests made by oil and gas companies in Oklahoma. The unjustifiable reclassification of this beetle has made it easier for these companies to pursue developments which will further destroy the habitat of this fragile species Despite it’s reclassification, conservationists still consider the American burying beetle to be a critically endangered species.