Factors affecting overwinter survival of the American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

Schnell, Gary D.; Hiott, Ana E.; Creighton, J. Curtis; Smyth, Victoria L.; Komendat, April

doi:10.1007/s10841-007-9086-5

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Cages were made of PVC tubes (20 cm diameter, 30 cm height) and a metal net (1 mm mesh) to prevent the beetles from escaping. Previous studies have shown that there were no significant differences between the environmental conditions and conditions inside the cages (Schnell et al, 2008). For a better imitation of natural conditions, cages were buried in the research area one month before placing the beetles in them.…”

Section: Study Area and Cage Constructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of cold on the immune system of burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

et al. 2016

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Insect overwintering is one of the most astonishing phases of the insect life cycle. Despite vast amounts of knowledge available about the physiological mechanisms of this phenomenon, the impact of stress factors on insect immune system functioning during the winter is still unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze how low temperatures influence the immune system of the beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. The results show that the beetle's immune system is differently modulated by cold induced in laboratory settings than that which occurs in natural conditions. Among beetles cultured in conditions similar to summer, low temperatures, did not influence the number of circulating haemocytes, phenoloxidase activity, haemocytes morphology, and percentage ratio of haemocyte types. In these beetles, differences were noted only in the ability of haemocytes to perform phagocytosis. Individuals acclimated in natural conditions in autumn had a higher level of humoral response and a different percentage ratio of haemocyte types. During the winter period, the number of haemocytes in the beetles decreased, but the percentage ratio of phagocytic haemocytes increased. Furthermore, we noted an increase of phenoloxidase activity. Our study also showed mitotic divisions of haemocytes in haemolymph collected from burying beetles after cold exposure and from burying beetles collected from natural conditions during autumn and winter. Differences in response to low temperatures in laboratory conditions and the natural environment suggest that the simultaneous presence of other stress factors during winter such as desiccation and starvation have a significant influence on the activity of burying beetle's immune system.

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Section: Study Area and Cage Constructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of cold on the immune system of burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

et al. 2016

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“…Furthermore, from both detection methods, the detection distance was within 10 cm below the soil, which may limit their use for detecting insect species that burrows deeper into the soil. For example, Nicrophorus americanus (Coleoptera: Silphidae) has been reported to overwinter in burrows that are as deep as 20 cm ( Schnell et al 2008 ), and dung beetle species belonging to family Geotrupidae may build nest between 8 and 21 cm below soil surface ( Huerta et al 2023 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of underground detection system using a metal detector and aluminum tag for Copris ochus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Kho,

Kim,

Kim

et al. 2024

Journal of Insect Science

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Tracking of soil-dwelling insects poses greater challenges compared to aboveground-dwelling animals in terrestrial systems. A metal detector system consisting of a commercially available detector and aluminum tags was developed for detecting dung beetle, Copris ochus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). First, detection efficacy of the system was evaluated by varying volumes of aluminum tags attached on a plastic model of the insect and also by varying angles. Then, detection efficacy was evaluated by varying depths of aluminum-tagged models under soil in 2 vegetation types. Finally, the effects of tag attachment on C. ochus adults were assessed for survivorship, burrowing depth, and horizontal movement. Generally, an increase in tag volume resulted in greater detection distance in semi-field conditions. Maximum detection distance of aluminum tag increased up to 17 cm below soil surface as the tag size (0.5 × 1.0 cm [width × length]) and thickness (16 layers) were maximized, resulting in a tag weight of 31.4 mg, comprising ca. 9% of average weight of C. ochus adult. Furthermore, the detection efficacy did not vary among angles except for 90°. In the field, metal detectors successfully detected 5 aluminum-tagged models in 20 × 10 m (W × L) arena within 10 min with detection rates ≥85% for up to depth of 10 cm and 45%–60% at depth of 20 cm. Finally, aluminum tagging did not significantly affect survivorship and behaviors of C. ochus. Our study indicates the potential of metal detector system for tracking C. ochus under soil.

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“…Nicrophorus americanus demonstrates a life history strategy that is susceptible to annual increases in temperature [22]. Although many insects develop faster at warmer temperatures, negative effects of increasing temperatures on N. americanus can include the mortality of adults from desiccation [13], impacts on carcass decomposition and failure of breeding [24], increased overwintering mortality from higher winter activity [25], and increased competition from other silphid beetles and flies [26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Occurrence of the American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) and Associated Silphid Beetle Community in South Dakota: Implications for Managed Relocation

Hoback,

Snethen,

Reed

et al. 2024

Diversity

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The American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier (Coleoptera: Siliphidae), is a federally threatened species in the United States, occurring in less than 10% of its historic range. The continued monitoring of extant populations found in South Dakota, the northernmost edge of its confirmed range, is imperative to future conservation efforts, especially with the predicted loss of the species in southern regions because of climate change. Proposed strategies to preserve the species include the reintroduction or translocation of individuals from habitats that have become unsuitable. Beyond adequate habitat and carrion resource requirements, community-level silphid interactions may challenge these efforts because of competition. From 2018 to 2020, we used 80 carrion-baited pitfall traps per year to conduct two 5-day surveys in June and August. A total of 25,923 Silphidae belonging to 15 species were collected in 1200 trap nights. Cumulatively, 1150 N. americanus were captured and marked with 263 recaptures. Like past findings, N. americanus was concentrated in western Tripp County with limited occurrence in Gregory and Todd Counties, suggesting no expansion of their known range in the past decade. Generalized linear mixed-effects models indicated N. americanus abundance was significantly predicted by the co-occurrence of the carrion beetles Oieceoptoma inaequale F. and Oiceoptoma noveboracense Forster, whereas pitfall trap catches dominated by the burying beetle Nicrophorus marginatus F. had predictively less N. americanus. Collectively, these data provide insights into the existing, northernmost N. americanus population dynamics and silphid beetle communities. Concurrent with monitoring extant populations, the characterization of silphid communities that co-occur with N. americanus may provide much-needed information for managed relocation opportunities.

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Factors affecting overwinter survival of the American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

Cited by 10 publications

References 23 publications

Impact of cold on the immune system of burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

Impact of cold on the immune system of burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

Development of underground detection system using a metal detector and aluminum tag for Copris ochus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The Occurrence of the American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) and Associated Silphid Beetle Community in South Dakota: Implications for Managed Relocation

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