National Geographic - USA (2021-03)

EXPLORE | DECODER

Infrared heat

sensors

ACTUAL

SIZE

Black fire beetle

Melanophila acuminata

Black fire

beetle larva

Black-backed

woodpecker

(male)

Black-backed woodpeckers are known as ecosystem

engineers—and they prefer their forests burned. Each year

these birds drill nesting cavities in fire-damaged forests,

where they blend in well. They also dine on wood-boring

beetles that thrive amid the ashes. Marvels of anatomy,

they can peck into some of the hardest trees thousands

of times a day without sustaining concussions or other

physical harm. BY TAYLOR MAGGIACOMO

LIFE

AFTER

FIRE

BEETLES SENSE HEAT

Hours after fire

FEASTING

Months after fire

Wood-boring fire beetles use

heat sensors to find burned

trees miles away, where they

lay their eggs.

Woodpeckers hunt for wood-boring

beetle larvae, their main food source.

The birds have usually colonized an

area by the first spring after a fire.

12

Powerful beak

Chisel-like beaks

are covered in

tough keratin.

Resilient bone

The front of the skull is

thick, spongy bone that

acts as a shock absorber.

Head protection

A small, smooth, and dense

brain rarely collides with

the skull as the bird pecks.

Extra eyelids

Specialized third eyelids

(nictitating membranes)

keep out flying debris.

Versatile tongue

A long tongue and tongue

bone can dislodge insects

and decrease vibrations.

Pecking muscles

Exceptionally fast neck

muscle contractions help

with powerful pecking.

Three toes

They can lean back farther,

and thus strike harder,

than four-toed species.

Supporting tail feathers

Sturdy, stiff tail feathers

brace the bird as it perches

against a tree.

22 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC