University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Great Plains Studies, Center for Social Sciences Fall 2011 NEW RECORDS OF CARRION BEETLES IN NEBRASKA REVEAL INCREASED PRESENCE OF THE AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE, NICROPHORUS AMERICANUS OLIVIER (COLEOPTERA: SILPHIDAE) Jessica Jurzenski University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Daniel G. Snethen Little Wound High School, Kyle, SD Mathew L. Brust Chadron State College, [email protected] W. Wyatt obH ack University of Nebraska at Kearney, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch Part of the American Studies Commons, Animal Sciences Commons, and the Entomology Commons Jurzenski, Jessica; Snethen, Daniel G.; Brust, Mathew L.; and Hoback, W. Wyatt, "NEW RECORDS OF CARRION BEETLES IN NEBRASKA REVEAL INCREASED PRESENCE OF THE AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE, NICROPHORUS AMERICANUS OLIVIER (COLEOPTERA: SILPHIDAE)" (2011). Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 1188. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/1188 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Studies, Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Great Plains Research 21 (Fall 2011):131-43 © 2011 Copyright by the Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska- Lincoln NEW RECORDS OF CARRION BEETLES IN NEBRASKA REVEAL INCREASED PRESENCE OF THE AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE, NICROPHORUS AMERICANUS OLIVIER (COLEOPTERA: SILPHIDAE) Jessica Jurzenski Department 0/ Entomology 202 Entomology Hall University o/Nebraska- Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68583-0816 [email protected] Daniel G. Snethen Science Department Little Wound High School p.o. Box 500 Kyle, SD 57752 Mathew L. Brust Department o/Biology Chadron State College 1000 Main Street Chadron, NE 69337 and W. Wyatt Hoback Department 0/ Biology 905 West 25th Street University o/Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE 68849 [email protected] ABSTRACT- Surveys for the American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier (Silphidae), between 2001 and 2010 in Nebraska resulted in 11 new county records for this endangered species and 465 new county records for 14 other silphid species. A total of5,212 American burying beetles were captured in more than 1,500 different locations. Using mark-recapture data, we estimated the population size ofthe American burying beetle (ABB) for six counties in the Sandhills. Blaine County (2003) had the largest population, with an estimated 56 ABBs per km 2 (1,338 ± 272 ABBs). The remaining estimates were between 2 and 36 ABBs per km2, which were calculated for Loup (2010) and Holt (2010) Counties, respectively. We calculated movement distances, finding that some American burying beetles moved as far as 7.24 km in a single night. This new information greatly contributes to efforts to conserve the American burying beetle in the Great Plains and provides knowledge about other silphid species distributions, which may playa role in recovery of the American burying beetle. Key Words: American burying beetle, carrion beetles, conservation, endangered species, Nebraska, Silphidae Manuscript received for review, December 2010; accepted for publication, March 2011. 131 132 Great Plains Research Vol. 21 No.2, 2011 INTRODUCTION ABB specimens were recorded from two Nebraska counties prior to 1950 (Antelope and Lancaster) and one Carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) are impor­ county (Custer) in 1970 (Ratcliffe 1996). The American tant saprophagous and predaceous insects because they burying beetle was rediscovered in Nebraska by Ratcliffe recycle carcasses and compete with or consume many and Jameson (1992) and was later captured from seven pest fly species (Pukowski 1933; Ratcliffe 1972; Scott additional counties (Cherry, Dawson, Frontier, Gosper, 1998). Although Silphidae is a small family having Keya Paha, Lincoln, and Thomas), which formed a only about 200 species, they are distributed worldwide, broken band through central Nebraska and included a except for in Antarctica, and occur across numerous sizable population of ABB in the Loess Canyon region temporal and spatial niches (Ratcliffe 1996; Bishop et al. (Ratcliffe 1996; Bedick et al. 1999; Peyton 2003). Bedick 2002; Sikes et al. 2006). North America (north of Me xi­ et al. (1999) and Peyton (2003) established population co) contains 31 species of carrion beetles, four of which estimates for the Loess Canyon region. In 1996, June and are shared with Europe (Peck and Kaulbars 1987). Over August population estimates calculated for an assumed half of the North American silphid species have been area of 1,943 km2 (Bedick et al. 1999) resulted in 1,174 recorded in Nebraska (18 species), with seven species and 3,046 ABB estimated, respectively. A larger sample in the subfamily Silphinae and 11 species (all in genus area of 4,500 km 2 was reported to have over 3,000 ABB Nicrophorus) in the subfamily Nicrophorinae (Ratcliffe individuals in June 1998 (Peyton 2003). Most sampling 1996). Members of the genus Nicrophorus, character­ efforts for ABB prior to 1996 were limited to the south­ ized by their burial of small carcasses for reproduction, central, northern, and eastern portions of Nebraska; there are better known as burying beetles (Pukowski 1933; was relatively little effort in the north-central region. As Scott 1998). Comprehensive descriptions and identifi­ of 1999, ABB distribution records indicated two disjunct cation keys for the carrion beetles in Nebraska can be ABB populations (Bedick et al. 1999). found in Ratcliffe (1996). The purpose of this paper is to update all silphid Nicrophorus american us Olivier, the American county records in Nebraska, with a special focus on burying beetle (ABB), once occurred throughout tem­ the American burying beetle. The estimated number of perate eastern North America and was found in 35 states ABBs occurring in the Sandhills is presented along with of the United States and in three of the Canadian prov­ additional survey information, including recapture dis­ inces (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1991). This species tances. is the largest silphid in the Western Hemisphere (An­ derson 1982). Its absence became apparent in the 1980s, MATERIALS AND METHODS and by 1989 the American burying beetle was thought to occur only on Block Island, Rhode Island, and on a From 2001 to 2010, various surveys involving carrion military installation in Oklahoma (Davis 1980; Kozol beetles were conducted across the state of Nebraska. A et al. 1988; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1991). It was majority of the surveys were concentrated in central Ne­ listed as federally endangered in 1989 (Federal Register braska (north to south), and other traps were scattered in 54 [133]: 29652- 55). At present, the American burying the eastern and western portions of the state. Many of the beetle is found in less than 10% of its historic range, with traps were placed to identify ABB presence or absence. localized, extant populations now found in seven states Also, voucher specimens in the University of Nebraska at (Lomolino et al. 1995; Miller and McDonald 1997; U.S. Kearney (UNK) insect collection are included for county Fish and Wildlife Service 2008a). Although the specific records. reasons for its rapid decline are still undetermined, hu­ Trapping in 2001 followed the Fish and Wildlife man impacts are suspected to have played a role (Sikes Service (1991) protocol for ABB as modified by Bedick and Raithel 2002). Reclassification criteria (endangered et al. (1999). Baited pitfall traps were constructed using to threatened) for the American burying beetle consists a 9.5 L plastic bucket with a diameter of 28.5 cm. These of the discovery or reestablishment of three populations buckets were placed at selected sample sites and buried so with 500 or more individuals within each of the four that the lip of the bucket was approximately 2 cm above geographic regions designated by the recovery plan the ground surface. The bottom of the bucket was filled (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1991). As of2008, these with about 10 cm of damp soil to reduce mortality from criteria have been met by the Midwest region (U.S. Fish desiccation and from inter- and intraspecific competition and Wildlife Service 2008a). or predation. The carrion bait consisted of 300 ± 50 g of © 2011 Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska~Lincoln New Records of Carrion Beetles in Nebraska • Jessica Jurzenski et 01. 133 rat, which was allowed to decompose at environmental day survey periods. A late June survey consisted of 12 temperatures of35°- 40°C for four days prior to trapping. baited pitfall trap locations at least 0.8 km apart in Loup During trapping, the bait was placed in a plastic screw­ and Rock Counties (six traps per county). A mid-August cap container covered with a 0.5 cm screen top, which survey also consisted of 12 baited pitfall trap locations at prohibited beetles or flies from contacting the carrion. A least 0.8 km apart, six each in Blaine and Brown Coun­ 2.8 cm screen (chicken wire) was placed over the top of ties. The baited pitfall traps for these surveys used 11.4 the bucket and was staked in place to deter scavenging L buckets and guinea pigs as bait, but all other aspects vertebrates from disturbing the trap. A rain cover con­ were the same. The age (i.e., senescent or teneral) was not sisting of a piece of plywood approximately 30 cm by 30 recorded for captured ABBs in August for these surveys cm was suspended 2.5 cm above the trap by 5 cm stakes. to avoid variability and errors in the evaluation of age Traps were placed a minimum of 0.8 km apart and were between multiple research crews. checked once per day.