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84
BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM
Pupation occurs the following spring, and
adults emerge in June in Nebraska. Scott
and Traniello (1990b) indicated they do not
become reproductively active until August.
Wilson et al. (1984) suggested that N. tomentosus
does not reproduce immediately
because of competition from larger species of
Nicrophorus. Smaller, “subordinate” species,
such as N. tomentosus, can persist by restricting
themselves to activity periods when
more dominant species are not abundant or
by using resources for which interference is
unprofitable for the more dominant (larger)
species (Trumbo 1990b).
Adults are diurnal (personal observation,
Shubeck 1971, Wilson et al. 1984). They
greatly resemble bumble bees when flying,
and Milne and Milne (1944) and Fisher and
Tuckerman (1986) suggested they are Batesian
mimics of bumble bees. Bumble bees are
strictly diurnal, and one would expect that
they are mimicked only by diurnal carrion
beetles; this appears to be the case. Clark
(1895) and Steele (1927) observed adults
feeding on maggots at carrion.
Anderson (1982c), Lingafelter (1995),
and Lomolino et al. (1995) observed that N.
tomentosus is a habitat generalist with no
preference for forests, shrubby areas, or open
grasslands. Our experience in Nebraska
corroborates these observations.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As with all synoptic faunal works of
this nature, a great many people contributed
valuable assistance to enable its completion.
I thank Mark Marcuson (former Scientific
Illustrator at the University of Nebraska
State Museum) for most of the habitus drawings
of the beetles, Polly Denham (Scientific
Illustrator for the Museum) for some of the
habitus drawings, David Reiser (Waverly,
NE) for the highly detailed color cover, and
my colleague and research assistant, Mary
Liz Jameson, for the many fine line drawings
and maps. Charles Messenger (Collection
Manager, University of Nebraska State
Museum) and Mary Liz assisted in collating
data as well as with collecting specimens.
Jon Bedick (currently my graduate student
working on the American burying beetle) and
Mark Peyton (Senior District Biologist with
the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation
District) added substantially to the
database with their collecting activities in
west central Nebraska.
Over the past several years, I have
conducted endangered species surveys for
the American burying beetle for several
agencies and firms. I thank the following
for providing additional opportunities to
sample silphids: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Natural Resources Conservation
Service (USDA), Nebraska Dept.
of Roads, Omaha Public Power District,
Nebraska Public Power District, Black and
Veatch Engineering, Peterson Environmental
Con- sulting, Werner Construction Co.,
and Fontenelle Forest Association. Mary
Liz Jameson, Charles Messenger, Daniel
Schmidt (Schuyler, NE), Natalie Sunderman
(Lincoln, NE), and Steven Lingafelter (University
of Kansas) conducted or assisted with
some of the surveys. I extend special thanks
to Wally Jobman (Wildlife Biologist, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service) and Mike Fritz
(Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)
for their continuing support of my activities
with endangered species and for coordinating
these activities with the respective federal
and state guidelines governing them.
I thank the Center for Great Plains
Studies (University of Nebraska) for granting
me a Summer Faculty Fellowship to conduct
research on Nebraska’s carrion beetles.
Charles Springer (Hastings College), Randall
Lawson (Chadron State College), Hal Nagel
(University of Nebraska-Kearney), and John
Janovy (Cedar Point Biological Station) made
available specimens for study that were in
collections under their care. I am grateful
to Gail Littrell (University of Nebraska State
Museum) for typing and preparing the manuscript.
I thank Mary Liz Jameson, Mark
Peyton, and Steven Lingafelter for critically
reviewing the manuscript.