Sexton/burying beetle

7493.     My son found this beetle on our green (organics) bin and we’ve never seen one before. It was quite large, almost as long as a quarter. We both thought the red “pom poms” on its antennae were cute. Ardrossan, AB. Canada

 

Number 7493.  This is a sexton/burying beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in the genus Nicrophorus. There are at least three species having this general appearance that have been reported from Alberta. See https://tinyurl.com/5capanjx
for an example. See Sexton/burying beetle detailed information .