<p>Animals undergo numerous modifications in behavior, physiology and morphology as they transition from a nonbreeding to a breeding state. With their rapid and repeated breeding cycles, burying beetles can be a model system for the study of how temporal phenotypic plasticity is used to cope with changing stressors. In this study, we investigated how the function of anal secretions of <i>Nicrophorus orbicollis</i> are altered by the onset of breeding. Larvae of <i>Ptomascopus morio</i>, a related carrion feeder that does not have parent–offspring feedings, were used as test subjects for <i>N. orbicollis</i> secretions. Newly eclosed larvae were fed one of six diets: anal secretions of nonbreeding female or male <i>N. orbicollis</i>, anal secretions of breeding females or males, oral secretions of female <i>N. orbicollis</i>, or macerated chicken liver. Survival of larvae was greater on anal secretions of breeders than with nonbreeders; survival was also high with oral secretions from breeding females and on liver. Growth was very poor with anal secretions compared to either oral secretions or liver, suggesting that while anal secretions are modified during parental care to be less toxic to young, they provide little or no nutritional benefit.</p>