DOCSLIB.ORG

Thesis (861.9Kb)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Thesis (861.9Kb) HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF CARRION BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: SILPHIDAE) COMMUNITIES FOUND ON SMALL MAMMAL CARRION IN THE KANSAS FLINT HILLS A Thesis by Emmy L. Engasser Bachelor of Science, Wichita State University, 2014 Submitted to the Department of Biological Sciences and the faculty of the Graduate School of Wichita State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science December 2017 © Copyright 2017 by Emmy L. Engasser All Rights Reserved HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF CARRION BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: SILPHIDAE) COMMUNITIES FOUND ON SMALL MAMMAL CARRION IN THE KANSAS FLINT HILLS The following faculty members have examined the final copy of this thesis for form and content, and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science with a major in Biological Sciences. ______________________________________ Mary Liz Jameson, Committee Chair ______________________________________ Leland Russell, Committee Member ______________________________________ Peer Moore-Jansen, Committee Member iii There are two things after death: putrefaction, the work of microbes, and disappearance, the work of insects. -Yovanovitch, 1888 iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I would like to thank Dr. Mary Liz Jameson. Her passion inspired me to pursue entomology. Without her support and guidance, I would not be the same person I am today. I thank Wichita State University for funding and use of their facilities, and the well-known Maria Martino and Marcia Norton (Wichita State University) for help with putting out fires and anything we needed. Thanks to my committee members, Dr. Leland Russell for his help with experimental design and statistical questions and Dr. Peer Moore-Jansen for providing forensic expertise, the funds needed to initiate this research, and granting access to WSU’S Skeleton Acres Research Facility. Their assistance and constructive criticism during this project was greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Rachel Stone, the other carrion queen, who was beside me through all the laughter, blood, sweat, and tears of this project. We did it! Rachel and I would not have been able to execute this research without the wonderful help of our research technicians: Jackie Baum, Jacqueline Nascimento, Brandon Hein, Breanna Sayers, Ethan Grennan, Niall Horton, Hannah Hoetmer, Faith Hanna, Morgan Trible, Theresa Wolff, and Nicole Brown. Thank you for stepping up to the stinky tasks! My sincere gratitude also goes out to: Drs. Brett Ratcliffe and MJ Paulsen (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) for assistance in identification of beetles; Dr. Josh Perkin (Texas A&M University) for guidance with statistical analyses; Juju Wellemeyer (Missouri Department of Conservation) for helping with statistics, brainstorming and being the best motivator a friend could ask for; Ranger Randy Just and Seth Turner (Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism) for their coordination and approval to conduct research at El Dorado State Park; Joyce Dudeck, Kim and Scott Bays for allowing this research to be conducted on their beautiful v property; Larry Slayton (Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita) for ordering many rats for this research; and Matthias Seidel and Axel Gonzalez for help with Czech translation (Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Czech Republic). I am also thankful for my supportive family during this time, especially my parents, Mike and Gigi Dudeck; my husband, Kyle Engasser; and my friends that have been here for me throughout the entire process and new friends I have made along the way. I love you all. vi ABSTRACT Necrophagous insects play an important role in decomposition and nutrient recycling of decomposing animals. Ecological studies of carrion-associated beetles enhance forensic investigations by providing information about community assemblages and predictable patterns of succession. Gaps in forensic entomology, include: 1) repeatable, replicable ecological research, 2) research sites across all geographic zones, and 3) research conducted throughout a full annual cycle. To address these gaps and observe habitat associations of carrion beetles, the influence of habitat (woodlands versus grasslands) and abiotic factors on carrion beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) communities were examined at three sites located within the Kansas Flint Hills. A total of 3,333 adult carrion beetles in nine species were collected from pitfall traps baited with rat carrion over twelve 4-week collecting periods. Silphid beetle community differed in species composition between grassland and woodland habitats, but communities did not differ significantly in overall mean abundance, mean species richness, or mean species diversity. Six species exhibited strong habitat associations; two associated with grassland habitats (Nicrophorus marginatus and Necrodes surinamensis), and four with woodland habitats (Nicrophorus orbicollis, Necrophila americana, Oiceoptoma noveboracense, and Nicrophorus pustulatus). These results are relevant for predicting patterns of silphid beetle communities in the Kansas Flint Hills and assist in determining corpse relocation in forensic studies. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………...1 II. MATERIALS AND METHODS………………………………………………………….5 STUDY SITES……………………………………………………………………5 SAMPLING PROTOCOL………………………………………………………...8 MEASUREMENT OF ABIOTIC VARIABLES…………………………………9 LABORATORY METHODS……………………………………………………10 ANALYSES……………………………………………………………………...10 III. RESULTS……………………………………………………………………………......14 IV. DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………………………18 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………...…...21 APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………………………...26 viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Carrion, or decomposing animal tissue, is an important ephemeral, nutrient resource for many organisms, including microbial, plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate communities (Barton et al. 2013, Benbow et al. 2016). Necrophagous insects, primarily Diptera and Coleoptera, play a large role in decomposition and nutrient recycling of these decaying animals (Payne 1965, Ratcliffe 1996, Kočárek 2003). Studies observing the environmental influences upon these insect assemblages have applications for community ecologists and forensic entomologists. An important concept of community ecology is that biotic and abiotic factors in the environment limit community assemblages and species interactions. Many insect species exhibit strong habitat associations (Bajerlein et al. 2011, Parry et al. 2016), and reasonable evidence supports the hypothesis that habitat types influence community composition of Silphidae species (Walker 1957, Anderson 1982, Shubeck 1983, Kentner and Streit 1990, Lingafelter 1995). Kočárek (2003) found that rat carrion in an open meadow site decayed much faster than rat carrion in a forest site, which suggests that these habitats play a significant role in rates of decomposition. This information is relevant in predicting patterns of insect communities with forensic importance. For example, some species of necrophagous beetles are used to determine if a corpse has been relocated after death in forensic investigations (Matuszewski et al. 2013, Madra et al. 2014). Forensic entomology relies on experimental data of necrophagous insects in the United States as evidence in criminal cases to determine postmortem interval (PMI) or period of insect activity (PIA) (Tomberlin et al. 2011, Harvey et al. 2016). However, lack of standardized research protocols and credibility of scientific information derived from these studies requires 1 wholesale changes to serve society more effectively (National Research Council 2009). Many gaps remain within forensic research involving necrophagous insects, including: 1) repeatable, replicable ecological research, 2) research sites across all geographic zones, and 3) research conducted throughout a full annual cycle (Tomberlin et al. 2011, Michaud et al. 2012, Tomberlin et al. 2012). An unreplicated treatment (or simple pseudoreplication; Benbow et al. 2016) is the most common experimental design error in forensic science articles published between 1985- 2009 (Michaud et al. 2012). This leads to inflated power of statistical tests and makes it more likely that researchers will conclude that an effect exists when it may not (Hurlbert 1984). Another problem with pseudoreplication is that the treatment level is confounded with natural variation that occurs within that treatment level, such as site effects. Pseudoreplication is avoided by conducting and designing experiments that have adequate replications using multiple carcasses within replicated treatments. Forensic entomology research that encompasses natural variability should be performed in all biogeographic regions, ecosystems, and habitats; multiple study sites within broad regions are needed to measure site effects and variability between sites (Michaud et al. 2012). Studies that are designed in this fashion will add validity to evidence at crime scenes that may take place in areas with no previous record of necrophagous insects. To address these gaps in forensic ecological research in the Kansas Flint Hills, we developed a repeatable framework that lacks pseudoreplication and includes natural variability for one full year. Existing research on carcass decomposition has primarily revolved around the succession and composition of fly species (Diptera) (Bala and Singh 2015, Nadeau et al. 2015). Beetles (Coleoptera) have received less consideration for estimating PMI within forensic science (Midgley et al. 2010),
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Evolutionary Significance of Body Size in Burying Beetles
    Brigham Young University Masthead Logo BYU ScholarsArchive All Theses and Dissertations 2018-04-01 The volutE ionary Significance of Body Size in Burying Beetles Ashlee Nichole Momcilovich Brigham Young University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Momcilovich, Ashlee Nichole, "The vE olutionary Significance of Body Size in Burying Beetles" (2018). All Theses and Dissertations. 7327. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/7327 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. The Evolutionary Significance of Body Size in Burying Beetles Ashlee Nichole Momcilovich A dissertation submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Mark C. Belk, Chair Seth M. Bybee Jerald B. Johnson Steven L. Peck G. Bruce Schaalje Department of Biology Brigham Young University Copyright © 2018 Ashlee Nichole Momcilovich All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT The Evolutionary Significance of Body Size in Burying Beetles Ashlee Nichole Momcilovich Department of Biology, BYU Doctor of Philosophy Body size is one of the most commonly studied traits of an organism, which is largely due to its direct correlation with fitness, life history strategy, and physiology of the organism. Patterns of body size distribution are also often studied. The distribution of body size within species is looked at for suggestions of differential mating strategies or niche variation among ontogenetic development. Patterns are also examined among species to determine the effects of competition, environmental factors, and phylogenetic inertia.
    [Show full text]
  • A Synergism Between Dimethyl Trisulfide and Methyl Thiolacetate
    University of Connecticut OpenCommons@UConn Department of Ecology and Evolutionary EEB Articles Biology 2020 A Synergism Between Dimethyl Trisulfide And Methyl Thiolacetate In Attracting Carrion-Frequenting Beetles Demonstrated By Use Of A Chemically-Supplemented Minimal Trap Stephen T. Trumbo University of Connecticut at Waterbury, [email protected] John Dicapua III University of Connecticut at Waterbury, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/eeb_articles Part of the Behavior and Ethology Commons, and the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Trumbo, Stephen T. and Dicapua, John III, "A Synergism Between Dimethyl Trisulfide And Methyl Thiolacetate In Attracting Carrion-Frequenting Beetles Demonstrated By Use Of A Chemically- Supplemented Minimal Trap" (2020). EEB Articles. 46. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/eeb_articles/46 1 1 2 A Synergism Between Dimethyl Trisulfide And Methyl Thiolacetate In Attracting 3 Carrion-Frequenting Beetles Demonstrated By Use Of A Chemically-Supplemented 4 Minimal Trap 5 6 Stephen T. Trumbo* and John A. Dicapua III 7 8 University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 9 Waterbury, Connecticut, USA 10 11 *Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 99 E. 12 Main St., Waterbury, CT 06710, U.S.A. ([email protected]) 13 ORCID - 0000-0002-4455-4211 14 15 Acknowledgements 16 We thank Alfred Newton (staphylinids), Armin MocZek and Anna Macagno (scarabs) 17 for their assistance with insect identification. Sandra Steiger kindly reviewed the 18 manuscript. The Southern Connecticut Regional Water Authority and the Flanders 19 Preserve granted permission for field experiments. The research was supported by 20 the University of Connecticut Research Foundation.
    [Show full text]
  • Forensic Entomology an Introduction
    Forensic Entomology An Introduction Dorothy E. Gennard University of Lincoln, UK Forensic Entomology Forensic Entomology An Introduction Dorothy E. Gennard University of Lincoln, UK Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8SQ, England Telephone +44 1243 779777 Email (for orders and customer service enquiries): [email protected] Visit our Home Page on www.wiley.com All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP, UK, without the permission in writing of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8SQ, England, or emailed to [email protected], or faxed to (+44) 1243 770620. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The Publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold on the understanding that the Publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
    [Show full text]
  • Ofcanada Part13
    THE INSECTS ANDARAOHNIDS OFCANADA PART13 The ofca,.m'ffitrslP; Coleo r* SgHHy'" THE INSECTS ANDARACHNIDS OFCANADA t%RT13 The Carrion Beetles of Canada and Alaska Coleoptera Silphidae and Agyrtidae Robert S. Andersonl and Stewart B. Peck2 Biosystematics Research Institute Ottawa, Ontario Research Branch Agriculture Canada Publication 1778 1985 rUniyersity of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta 2Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario oMinister of Supply and Services Canada 1985 Available in Canada through Authorized Bookstore Agents and other bookstores or by mail from Canadian Government Publishing Centre Supply and Services Canada Ottawa, Canada KIA 0S9 Catalogue No. A42-42,21985-l3E Canada: $7.00 ISBN 0-662-11752-5 Other Countries: $8.40 Price subject to change without notice Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Anderson, Robert Samuel The carrion beetles of Canada and Alaska (Coleoptera: Silphidae and Agyrtidae) (The Insects and arachnids of Canada, ISSN 0706-7313 ; pt. 13) (Publication ;1778) Includes bibliographical references and index. l. Silphidae. 2. Beetles - Canada. 3. Beetles -- Alaska. I. Peck, Stewart B. II. Canada. Agricul- ture Canada. Research Branch. III. Title. IV. Series. V. Series: Publication (Canada. Agri- culture Canada). English ; 1778. QL596.S5A5 1985 595.76 C85-097200-0 The Insects and Arachnids of Canada Part l. Collecting, Preparing, and Preserving Insects, Mites, and Spiders, compiled by J. E. H. Martin, Biosystematics Research Institute, Ottawa, 1977. 182 p. Price: Canada $3.50, other countries $4.20 (Canadian funds). Cat. No. A42-42/1977 -1. Partie 1. R6colte, prdparation et conservation des Insectes, des Acariens et des Araign6es, compil6 par J.E.H. Martin, Institut de recherches biosyst6- matiques, Ottawa, 1983.
    [Show full text]
  • American Burying Beetle
    American Burying Beetle U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 9014 East 21st Street Tulsa, Oklahoma 74129 Nicrophorus americanus - Olivier 918- 5 8 1 - 7458 6 / 4 / 2 0 1 4 Available online http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Oklahoma/ABB_Add_Info.htm American Burying Beetle (ABB) Nicrophorus americanus Executive Summary The American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus, ABB) is the largest silphid (carrion beetle) in North America, reaching 1.0 to 1.8 inches (2.5-4.5 cm) in length (Wilson 1971, Anderson 1982, Backlund and Marrone 1997). The most diagnostic feature of the ABB is the large orange-red marking on the raised portion of the pronotum (hard back plate of the front portion of the thorax of insects), a feature shared with no other members of the genus in North America (USFWS 1991). The ABB is a nocturnal species that lives only for one year. The beetles are active in the summer months and bury themselves in the soil for the duration of the winter. Immature beetles (tenerals) emerge in late summer, over-winter as adults, and comprise the breeding population the following summer (Kozol 1990a). Adults and larvae are dependent on carrion (animal carcass) for food and reproduction. They must compete for carrion with other invertebrate and vertebrate species. Having wings, ABBs are strong fliers and have been reported moving distances ranging from 0.10 to 18.14 miles (0-29.19 kilometers) in various parts of their range (Bedick et al. 1999, Creighton and Schnell 1998, Jurzenski 2012, Jurzenski et al. 2011, Schnell et al. 1997-2006). In Oklahoma, ABBs have been recorded to move up to 10 km (6.2 miles) in 6 nights (Creighton and Schnell 1998).
    [Show full text]
  • Nicrophorus Orbicollis)
    FACTORS AFFECTING REPRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT BY A BURYING BEETLE (NICROPHORUS ORBICOLLIS) By KRISTEN N. BAYLEY Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences California State University, Stanislaus Turlock, CA 2011 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE May, 2016 FACTORS AFFECTING REPRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT BY A BURYING BEETLE (NICROPHORUS ORBICOLLIS) Thesis Approved: Dr. Barney Luttbeg Thesis Adviser Dr. Wyatt Hoback Dr. Shawn Wilder ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to everyone who has made this project possible. I would especially like to thank my advisor Dr. Barney Luttbeg for the immense support and guidance over the last few years. Thank you to my committee members, Dr. Wyatt Hoback and Dr. Shawn Wilder, for all your insight and assistance throughout the project. I’d also like to thank my lab mates, Jillian Wormington, Lynne Beaty, Bart Kensinger, and Scott Goeppner for their support and inspiration. Thanks to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) for funding and the various wildlife management areas and state parks that allowed me to use their land to collect beetles. I appreciate my colleagues and friends at OSU for their friendship and encouragement. And thanks to all my friends and family for having faith in me and keeping me motivated. iii Acknowledgements reflect the views of the author and are not endorsed by committee members or Oklahoma State University. Name: KRISTEN N. BAYLEY Date of Degree: MAY 2016 Title of Study: FACTORS AFFECTING REPRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT BY A BURYING BEETLE (NICROPHORUS ORBICOLLIS) Major Field: ZOOLOGY Abstract: Reproductive investment is an important activity in an animal’s life.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Origin of Parental Care in Mesozoic Carrion Beetles
    Early origin of parental care in Mesozoic carrion beetles Chen-Yang Caia, Margaret K. Thayerb, Michael S. Engelc,d, Alfred F. Newtonb, Jaime Ortega-Blancoc, Bo Wange, Xiang-Dong Wangf, and Di-Ying Huanga,1 aState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, People’s Republic of China; bIntegrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605; cDivision of Entomology, Natural History Museum, and dDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045; eSteinmann Institute, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; and fNo. 7 Xinghuo Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People’s Republic of China Edited by Paul E. Olsen, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, and approved August 14, 2014 (received for review July 2, 2014) The reconstruction and timing of the early stages of social evolution, The material studied herein includes 44 well-preserved speci- such as parental care, in the fossil record is a challenge, as these mens belonging to three distinct groups. The first group, charac- behaviors often do not leave concrete traces. One of the intensely terized by the absence of abdominal stridulatory files, comprises investigated examples of modern parental care are the modern 37 specimens from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou beds (∼165 Mya) burying beetles (Silphidae: Nicrophorus), a lineage that includes no- at Daohugou, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia of China. The table endangered species. Here we report diverse transitional second group, with distinct abdominal stridulatory files as in crown- silphids from the Mesozoic of China and Myanmar that provide group nicrophorine silphids, includes five specimens from the insights into the origins of parental care.
    [Show full text]
  • The Silphidae (Coleoptera) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada Christopher G
    J. Acad. Entomol. Soc. 7: 83-101 (2011) The Silphidae (Coleoptera) of the Maritime Provinces of Canada Christopher G. Majka ABSTRACT The carrion beetle (Silphidae) fauna of the Maritime Provinces of Canada is surveyed. Eleven species are found in the region, and they are all present in all three provinces and on Cape Breton Island. As a result of this survey, five new provincial records are reported; Necrophila americana, Thanatophilus lapponicus, Nicrophorus pustulatus, and Nicrophorus sayi are newly recorded in Prince Edward Island, and Nicrophorus investigator is newly recorded in New Brunswick. Additionally, N. sayi is newly recorded from the Îles de la Madeleine, Nicrophorus orbicollis is newly recorded from Cape Breton Island, and N. investigator is newly recorded from the mainland of Nova Scotia. Historical reports of one species, the endangered Nicrophorus americanus, are reviewed with the conclusion that there is no verifiable evidence that it has ever occurred in Nova Scotia. Although all species feed and breed on carrion, there are nevertheless substantial differences in their developmental biology, behavior, seasonality, diel activity, habitat preferences, the particular carrion resources they utilize, and other aspects of their biology that allow them to differentially utilize this resource. The general features of the biology of the two subfamilies, the Silphinae and Nicrophorinae are reviewed, and in individual species accounts, particular aspects of each species are highlighted. The distributions of all species are mapped, and the relative abundance and seasonal distribution of species are graphed. Aspects of resource partitioning, competition, and niche width of the species are discussed. To assist in identification, a key to species found in the region is provided, as are colour habitus photographs of all the species.
    [Show full text]
  • Partitioning Resources Through the Seasons: a Test of the Competitive Ability – Cold Tolerance Trade-Off Hypothesis in Seasonally Breeding Beetles
    PARTITIONING RESOURCES THROUGH THE SEASONS: A TEST OF THE COMPETITIVE ABILITY – COLD TOLERANCE TRADE-OFF HYPOTHESIS IN SEASONALLY BREEDING BEETLES By Jillian Diane Wettlaufer A thesis submitted to the Department of Biology in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada May 2019 Copyright © Jillian Diane Wettlaufer, 2019 ii Abstract Understanding the factors that maintain and constrain biodiversity and species coexistence is a major goal in ecology. Closely related species that use similar resources often differ in their seasonal patterns of activity, consistent with resource partitioning that is thought to facilitate coexistence. The factors that limit the distributions of these species across seasons, however, are unknown for the majority of species. In my second chapter, we conducted a large- scale survey of a diverse carrion beetle community in southeastern Ontario, Canada from April to October, and found evidence consistent with resource partitioning in Nicrophorus habitat generalists, but limited evidence for seasonal differences in abundance among habitat specialists. In my third chapter, we test one hypothesis that may explain seasonal differences in activity between two burying beetle species (Nicrophorus sayi, N. orbicollis) that co-occur, require carrion for food and reproduction, and differ in their seasonal patterns of activity. Specifically, we tested predictions of the competitive ability – cold tolerance trade-off hypothesis whereby adaptations to cold temperatures compromise competitive ability under warmer conditions, leading to the partitioning of resources along seasonal gradients. Consistent with our hypothesis, we found evidence that the late-season N. orbicollis is less able to function at the cold temperatures that characterize early spring, when the early-season N.
    [Show full text]
  • Entomology I
    MZO-08 Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Kota Entomology I MZO-08 Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Kota Entomology I Course Development Committee Chair Person Prof. Ashok Sharma Prof. L.R.Gurjar Vice-Chancellor Director (Academic) Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Kota Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Kota Coordinator and Members Convener SANDEEP HOODA Assistant Professor of Zoology School of Science & Technology Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Kota Members Prof . (Rtd.) Dr. D.P. Jaroli Prof. (Rtd.) Dr. Reena Mathur Professor Emeritus Former Head Department of Zoology Department of Zoology University of Rajasthan, Jaipur University of Rajasthan, Jaipur Prof. (Rtd.) Dr. S.C. Joshi Prof. (Rtd.) Dr. Maheep Bhatnagar Department of Zoology Mohan Lal Sukhadiya University University of Rajasthan, Jaipur Udaipur Prof. (Rtd.) Dr. K.K. Sharma Prof. M.M. Ranga Mahrishi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer Ajmer Dr. Anuradha Singh Dr. Prahlad Dubey Rtd. Lecturer Government College Head Department of Zoology Kota Government College , Kota Dr. Subrat Sharma Dr. Anuradha Dubey Lecturer Deputy Director Government College , Kota School of Science and Technology Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Kota Dr. Subhash Chandra Director (Regional Center) VMOU, Kota Editing and Course Writing Editors Dr. Subhash Chandra SANDEEP HOODA Director ,Regional Center Assistant Professor of Zoology Vardhman Mahaveer Open University ,Kota Vardhman Mahaveer Open University ,Kota Writers: Writer Name Unit No. Writer Name Unit No Ms. Asha Kumari Verma 3,5,8 Dr. Abhishek Rajpurohit 11,13 UGC-NET JRF Department of Assistant Professor Zoology, JNVU, Lachoo Memorial College Jodhpur of Science & Technology,Jodhpur Dr. Neetu Kachhawaha 1,2,4,6,7,12 Dr. Subhash Chandra 14,15 Assistant Professor, Director ,Regional Center Department of Zoology, Vardhman Mahaveer University of Rajasthan ,Jaipur.
    [Show full text]
  • Key to the Carrion Beetles (Silphidae) of Colorado & Neighboring States
    Key to the carrion beetles (Silphidae) of Colorado & neighboring states Emily Monk, Kevin Hinson, Tim Szewczyk, Holly D’Oench, and Christy M. McCain UCB 265, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and CU Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO 80309, [email protected], [email protected] Version 1 posted online: March 2016 This key is based on several identification sources, including Anderson & Peck 1985, De Jong 2011, Hanley & Cuthrell 2008, Peck & Kaulbars 1997, Peck & Miller 1993, and Ratcliffe 1996. We include all species known from Colorado and those in the surrounding states that might occur in Colorado. Of course, new species may be detected, so make sure to investigate unique individuals carefully. We have included pictures of each species from specimens of the Entomology collection at the CU Museum of Natural History (UCM), the Colorado State C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity (GMAD), and the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA). A glossary of terms, a list of the states where each species has been detected, and references can be found after the key. We would appreciate reports of omitted species or species from new localities not stated herein. First step—ID as a silphid: Large size, body shape, and antennal club are usually distinctive. Body usually 10-35 mm, moderately to strongly flattened. Elytra broad toward rear, either loosely covering abdomen or short, exposing 1-3 segments. Antennae often ending in a hairy, three-segmented club, usually preceded by two or three enlarged but glabrous segments (subfamily Silphinae) or antennomeres 9-11 lammellate (subfamily Nicrophorinae). Black, often with red, yellow, or orange markings.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Humidity and Temperature On
    EFFECTS OF HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE ON BURYING BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: SILPHIDAE) SURVIVAL AND FLIGHT By DAN ST. AUBIN Bachelor of Science in Entomology and Plant Pathology Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma 2017 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE December, 2017 EFFECTS OF HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE ON BURYING BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: SILPHIDAE) SURVIVAL AND FLIGHT Thesis Approved: Dr. W. Wyatt Hoback - Thesis Adviser Dr. Kris Giles Dr. George Opit Dr. Amy Smith ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first and foremost, like to thank those who worked most closely with me to simply “complete my thesis.” A great deal of help came from Marcela Gigliotti, for helping me run my beetles and helping me omit long and drab narratives. For allowing us to collect and sample beetles out at Camp Gruber, I thank Rusty and Larry for setting us up with great sampling locations and support. Gratitude also goes out to everyone whom I’ve interacted with on the base at camp Gruber. Thanks goes out to my field crews who helped me to gather data and work in the field; Lexi Freeman and Jacob Farreister. I would like to thank the programs that contributed grants, research funding, and scholarships. When times were tough, my parents were always there supporting me financially and spiritually; thanks Mom and Dad. I owe you both more than I could pay back. I’m grateful to have seen all the live musicians I’ve seen over my years at OSU and my road crews for sharing the miles to and from.
    [Show full text]