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82
BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM
transverse bands. Some specimens of N.
orbicollis may also have small spots, but
then they also possess elytral setae whereas
N. pustulatus do not.
The larval stage remains undescribed.
Wilson and Knollenberg (1984) and
Anderson and Peck (1985) observed that
N. pustulatus is one of the rarer species of
Nicrophorus and that it may, in fact, have a
different natural history than other species
as exemplified by its rarity in pitfall traps,
absence from mice carcasses, and common
occurrence at lights. Trumbo (1992) observed
that N. pustulatus is a formidable
brood parasite and produces the largest
clutches (nearly 200 young) of any Nicrophorus
species. They are routinely able to
parasitize the broods of N. orbicollis but
the reverse was never observed (Trumbo
1994). Adults are nocturnal. Adult activity,
including reproduction, occurs in the
spring, and teneral adults usually appear
in mid to late summer. These adults probably
overwinter (Peck and Kaulbars 1987).
Anderson (1982) and Shubeck (1983) suggested
this species has a strong preference
for forested habitats while Lingafelter’s
(1995) study in Kansas showed a preference
for the ecotone between forests and fields.
Nicrophorus tomentosus Weber
(Figs. 118, 120)
Necrophorus tomentosus Weber 1801: 47.
Necrophorus velutinus Fabricius 1801: 334.
Necrophorus velutinus angustifasciatus
Portevin 1925: 170.
Necrophorus velutinus aurigaster Portevin
1925: 170.
Diagnosis. Length 11.2-19.0 mm. Head:
Club of antenna black, basal segment shining,
remaining segments dull. Thorax:
Pronotum subquadrate with lateral margins
broad; basal margin wide; surface covered
with dense, long, yellow setae. Metasternum
with long, yellow setae, with a glabrous spot
present posterior to each of the mesocoxae.
Metepimeron with only a few yellow setae
or glabrous. Elytra: Each elytron with two,
transverse orange maculae, maculae usually
reaching suture, occasionally connected laterally,
occasionally coalesced on disc. Legs:
Posterior tibia straight.
Distribution. Nicrophorus tomentosus is an
abundant and widely distributed species. It
occurs in nearly all of the United States (not
the southern halves of Texas or Florida) and
southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains
(Anderson and Peck 1985, Peck and
Kaulbars 1987). In Nebraska, it is found
throughout the state.
Locality Records (Fig. 118). 5,991 Nebraska
specimens examined or recorded.
ADAMS CO. (3): Hastings; CASS CO. (166):
Plattsmouth; CHASE CO. (76): Enders
Reservoir; CHERRY CO. (20): Valentine,
Ft. Niobrara Wildlife Refuge; CHEYENNE
CO. (4): Dalton, Gurly; CUMING CO. (3):
West Point; CUSTER CO. (250): Anselmo,
Milburn, Sargent; DAWES CO. (11): Ash
Creek, Chadron; DAWSON CO. (2): 5 mi. S.
Gothenburg; DIXON CO. (192): Aowa Creek;
DUNDY CO. (27): 1.5 mi. SW Max, Republican
River E of Benkelman; FILLMORE
CO. (5): Fairmont; FRANKLIN CO. (19):
Franklin; FRONTIER CO. (1,287): Farnam,
Medicine Creek Reservoir, Red Willow Reservoir;
GOSPER CO. (192): Elwood Reservoir,
Lexington, Smithfield; HALL CO. (37):
Alda; HARLAN CO. (6): Republican River S
of Orleans; JEFFERSON CO. (36): No data;
JOHNSON CO. (5): No data; KEITH CO.
(10): Cedar Point Biological Station, Sand
Creek at Hwy. 2; KEYA PAHA CO. (50):
Carns, Mills, Norden; KNOX CO. (72): Bazile
Creek Wildlife Mgmt. Area, Center; LAN-
CASTER CO. (46): Lincoln, Reller Prairie,
Sprague; LINCOLN CO. (2,719): Brady, Box
Elder Canyon, Cottonwood Canyon, Moran
Canyon, North Platte, Sutherland, Wellfleet;
McPHERSON CO. (1): No data; OTOE CO.
(26): No data; PAWNEE CO. (6): No data;
PHELPS CO. (5): Bertrand; PLATTE CO.
(1): Columbus; POLK CO. (10): No data;
RICHARDSON CO. (1): Indian Cave State