Nicrophorus tomentosus

Nicrophorus tomentosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Silphidae
Genus: Nicrophorus
Species:
N. tomentosus
Binomial name
Nicrophorus tomentosus
Weber, 1801
Synonyms
  • Nicrophorus vespillo v. "delta" Frölich 1792 (Unav.)
  • Necrophorus [sic] tomentosus Weber, 1801
  • Necrophorus [sic] velutinus Fabricius, 1801
  • Necrophorus [sic] Requiescator Gistel, 1848
  • Necrophorus [sic] marginatus Gistel, 1857 (Preocc.)
  • Necrophorus [sic] velutinus v. aurigaster Portevin, 1925

Nicrophorus tomentosus (gold-necked carrion beetle or tomentose burying beetle) is a species of burying beetle that was described by Friedrich Weber in 1801.[1][2] The beetle belongs to the family Silphidae which are carrion beetles. The beetles have sensitive antennae that contain olfactory organs. Thus, the beetle can locate dead animals (carcass), and then as the name suggests, can bury them.[3] However, unlike other burying beetles, N. tomentosus does not completely bury these brood carcasses. They instead dig a shallow hole under the carcass and cover it with leaf litter.[4] Recognition of these beetles can be distinguished by its black color with orange markings on the wing covers (elytra).[5]

  1. ^ Sikes, Derek S.; Madge, Ronald B.; Newton, Alfred F. (August 29, 2002). "A catalog of the Nicrophorinae (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of the world". Zootaxa. 65 (1): 1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.65.1.1. ISBN 0-9582395-1-7.
  2. ^ Jason H. Byrd & James L. Castner (2001). Forensic Entomology: the Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-8120-1.
  3. ^ W. W. Hoback, D. G. Snethen & M. L. Brust (April 5, 2005). "Carrion beetles of Nebraska". University of Nebraska at Kearney. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
  4. ^ "Nicrophorus tomentosus, Sexton Beetle". Insects of West Virginia: Dragonflies, Beetles, Flies, Leafhoppers of the Mountain State. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference multiple was invoked but never defined (see the help page).