Nicrophorus americanus
This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (October 2010) ) |
Nicrophorus americanus | |
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adult female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Silphidae |
Genus: | Nicrophorus |
Species: | N. americanus
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Binomial name | |
Nicrophorus americanus (Olivier, 1790)
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Synonyms | |
Nicrophorus americanus, also known as the American burying beetle or giant carrion beetle, is a
Description
N. americanus adults are between 25 and 45 millimetres (0.98 and 1.77 in) long and can be identified by their striking, distinctive coloring. The body is shiny black, and on each elytron (wing cover) are two scalloped, orange-red markings. Most distinctively, there is an orange-red marking on the
Distribution
Historical records show that this beetle once lived in 35 states and the
Reproduction
During the winter months when temperatures are below 15 °C (60 °F) N. americanus adults bury themselves in the soil to overwinter. When temperatures are above 15 °C (60 °F) they emerge from the soil and begin the mating and reproduction process. Burying beetles are unusual in that both the male and female take part in raising the young. Male burying beetles often locate carcasses first and then attract a mate. Beetles often fight over the carcass, with usually the largest male and female individuals winning. The victors bury the carcass, the pair mates, and the female lays her
The larvae spend about a week feeding off the carcass then crawl into the soil to pupate, or develop. Mature N. americanus beetles emerge from the soil 45 to 60 days after their parents initially bury the carcass. Adult American burying beetles live for only 12 months.
Ecology and behavior
Historical records offer little insight into what type of habitat was preferred by the American burying beetle. Current information suggests that this species is a habitat generalist, or one that lives in many types of habitat, with a slight preference for
Conservation status
In Oklahoma, petitions were made in 2015 and 2016 to delist the species from endangered status as it came in the way of the oil and gas industry in the region.
The immediate goal of conservation efforts is to reduce the threat of extinction by creating captive and wild populations. Biologists have attempted to establish a beetle population releasing laboratory-raised American burying beetles on Penikese Island and Nantucket island in Massachusetts. Biologists return each year to both islands to study the survival and growth of the beetle population.
In 2020, the species was reclassified as "threatened" by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.[9] The American burying beetle faces threats from climate change, particularly in the southwestern portion of its range, as well as from development causing habitat loss and fragmentation.[9]
References
- . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ NatureServe. 2019. Nicrophorus americanus, American Burying Beetle. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.113123/Nicrophorus_americanus. Accessed 17 November 2021.
- .
- ^ "USFWS: American Burying Beetle Fact Sheet". Fws.gov. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ Canada, Environment and Climate Change (10 October 2012). "American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus): COSEWIC assessment and status report 2011". Canada.ca. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ "American Burying Beetle Evaluation". Ontario.ca. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ "MDC and partners assist American burying beetle's removal from national endangered species list". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ Thomas, Brett (2015). "Bugging the oil and gas industry: the American burying beetle in Oklahoma". Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal. 1 (2): 221–240.
- ^ a b USFWS (15 October 2020). "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassification of the American Burying Beetle From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule". Federal Register. 85 (200): 65241–65261. 85 FR 65241
Further reading
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species. 1997. The American Burying Beetle
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1991. American Burying Beetle Recovery Plan
External links
- Media related to Nicrophorus americanus at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Nicrophorus americanus at Wikispecies