Scientists have discovered an interesting behavior among beetles as they care for their child and the females do not engage in mating till the time baby beetles are independent. Females also seek help from males in caring for baby beetles.

The research team noted that female burying beetles do not allow males to mate till the time baby beetles are independent. The study has appeared on Tuesday in journal Nature Communications.

Lead researcher Sandra Steiger, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Ulm in Germany, said they are quite a modern family. They studied 400 pairs of beetles during a time period of three years.

Burying beetles, black with red markings, not just zap fathers with an anti-aphrodisiac, but also make them help out in talking care of baby beetles.

Since long, evolutionary biologists were aware that burying beetles are strange because both males and females take care of their broods together. Researchers have found physiological mechanisms using which the sex-versus-parenting détente is mediated.

Researchers discovered that when the immature, wingless beetle larvae are highly dependent, it halts eggs production and discharges a chemical that works like an anti-aphrodisiac. The message is received by the father via his antennae. Thereafter, both the parents sit together for the species-preserving imperative: Kids first. Protect and feed.

After three days when the larvae become sufficiently independent to toddle off and feed themselves, parents again start copulating.

Burying beetles face a conflict between whether they use their small resources in the creation of more eggs or work on saving and taking care of its offspring? They strike an elegant balance by taking a break from procreation to nourish their young ones.

Burying beetles aren’t like primates, which alters behavior and outlook to publicize when they are eager and ovulating, instead they broadcast the opposite details.