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Mexico) had relatively low efficiency of
carrion-locating behavior. I have collected
this species commonly in western Nebraska
using pitfall traps baited with fish. Otherwise,
little is known of its biology.
Nicrophorus guttula Motschulsky
(Figs. 77, 84, 94, 100, 109-110)
Necrophorus guttula Motschulsky 1845: 53.
Necrophorus hecate Bland 1865: 382.
Nicrophorus guttula punctostriatus Pierce
1949: 66.
Nicrophorus hecate immaculosus Hatch 1957:
15.
Diagnosis. Length 12.2-20.0 mm. Head:
Club of antenna completely orange or with
basal segment black or piceous; penultimate
segment with outer edge emarginate (Fig.
94). Thorax: Pronotum cordate, with lateral
margins narrow; basal margin wide; anterior,
transverse impression deep, distinct (Fig.
77). Metasternum and metepimeron with
dense, yellow pubescence. Elytra: Pattern
variable; each elytron with two transverse,
orange maculae, maculae frequently coalesced
near center, anterior macula usually
reaching suture, posterior macula not quite
extending to suture; or, maculae reduced
THE CARRION BEETLES OF NEBRASKA 67
Fig. 109. Nebraska distribution of Nicrophorus carolinus, N. guttula, N. hybridus, N. investigator.
to two separate bands, or spots, or entirely
absent. Epipleuron usually orange with
anterior black band of elytra crossing onto it
(Fig. 84); in specimens with predominantly
black elytra, only extreme base of epipleuron
orange, remainder black. Legs: Posterior
tibia straight. Anterior face of procoxa with
long setae on basal half.
Distribution. Nicrophorus guttula is widely
distributed in the western half of the United
States, southern British Columbia, Alberta,
and Saskatchewan in Canada, and northern
Baja California in Mexico (Anderson and
Peck 1985, Peck and Kaulbars 1987). In Nebraska,
this species is recorded from the west
primarily, but there is a Lincoln record.
Locality Records (Fig. 109). 117 Nebraska
specimens examined or recorded.
BOX BUTTE CO. (1): No data; CHERRY CO.
(7): Ft. Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge;
DAWES CO. (6): Chadron; LANCASTER
CO. (1): Lincoln; SIOUX CO. (56): Gilbert
Baker Wildlife Area, Glen, Monroe Canyon,
Warbonnet Canyon; THOMAS CO. (46):
Halsey Forest Reserve.
Temporal Distribution. Rangewide: May
to September (Anderson and Peck 1985).