Nicrophorus defodiens

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Nicrophorus defodiens is a burying beetle described by Mannerheim in 1846.

Nicrophorus defodiens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Silphidae
Genus: Nicrophorus
Species:
N. defodiens
Binomial name
Nicrophorus defodiens
Synonyms
  • Necrophorus [sic] defodiens Mannerheim, 1846
  • Necrophorus [sic] pollinctor LeConte, 1854 (Preocc.)
  • Necrophorus [sic] conversator Walker, 1866
  • Necrophorus [sic] plagiatus Motschulsky, 1870 (Preocc.)
  • Necrophorus [sic] vespilloides v. lateralis Portevin, 1903

In 2012, N. defodiens was found to be one of at least two burying beetles which can breed in the forest canopy.[1]

Ecology

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When it comes to mating, the males of N. defodiens use a pheromonal signal to attract their mate. During the mating period females often bite males. When copulation is over, the males' pheromone emission is resumed, but the female attempts to obstruct the male from attracting any additional females, thus imposing monogamy on the male.[2] Unlike N. orbicollis this species produces twice as many eggs (roughly 23.9 in total).[3]

References

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  1. ^ Lowe, Amanda; Randy Lauff (2012). "Arboreal Burials in Nicrophorus spp. (Coleoptera: Silphidae)". Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 2012: 1–6. doi:10.1155/2012/578650.
  2. ^ Göran Arnqvist; Locke Rowe (2012). Sexual Conflict. Princeton University Press. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-691-12217-5. LCCN 2004053520.
  3. ^ Dorothy Gennard (2013-04-30). Forensic Entomology: An Introduction. Wiley. ISBN 9781118684887.