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Post by takahe on Dec 8, 2014 4:20:13 GMT -8
These were collected by me in upper Michigan in the 90s. The one on the left could be Nicrophorus investigator. I have several others, and they are similar.  |
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Post by bandrow on Dec 8, 2014 18:30:25 GMT -8
Greetings, The specimen on the left is likely Nicrophorus defodiens, based on the all-black antennal club and color pattern - it's also typically smaller in average size than the other species. A double-check would be to see if the orange along the elytral margin reaches forward to the humeri or not - it does not in defodiens. The specimen on the right is likely Nicrophorus sayi based on the curved hind tibiae and the orange outer segments of the antennal club. Again, check the orange on the elytral margin - it does reach the humeri in sayi. I say "likely" for both only because I am doing this from an image and can't see all of the characters necessary to be 100% sure  Cheers! Bandrow |
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Post by takahe on Dec 9, 2014 4:38:57 GMT -8
Hello Bandrow, Thanks for your reply. It is much appreciated. On close examination of the specimens, I think you are right. The larger specimen does indeed have the orange reaching the front edge of the elytra, and the antennal clubs are also orange. Without a macro lens it is difficult to get good close-ups of these kinds of details. I've done some other pics with more of a side view. Are you a specialist in Silphidae? I collected a fair number while in college but rarely see any these days other than the very common Silpha americana. In these next pics, the specimen on the left (which unfortunately is without collecting data), has quite a bit more orange on the elytra, and white antennal tips. The other two seem to be the same. One was identified by the collector as Nicrophorus investigator. And the final one is one I decided to spread the wings on, just to show how they look with wings spread. It does not have the orange reaching the tops of the elytra, but does have orange antennal clubs. Bradleigh   |
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Post by bandrow on Dec 11, 2014 21:30:49 GMT -8
Hi Bradleigh,
No, I'm not a specialist on Silphidae, but I've had a lot of experience IDing them for various faunal survey projects I've been involved with.
The right specimen in the top photo and the spread specimen look a lot like Nicrophorus orbicollis to me. The color pattern, the straight hind tibiae and the orange antennal club all point to orbicollis. Check these two further by looking for sparse, erect setae covering the elytra. It is often rubbed off on the dorsal surface but can usually still be obvious along the margins or at the apices. This combined with the other characters will almost certainly pin it down to orbicollis.
There are some clues to the one on the left possibly being Nicrophorus vespilloides. It generally has dense patches of whitish pubescence on the antennal club segments and the color pattern of the elytral epipleuron seems right. In N. investigator, the elytral epipleura are entirely orange for their full length, which seems to rule out any of the three from being that species.
I can't be sure of the ID of the center specimen in the top photo - I can't see it well enough to be sure.
Hope this helps some,
Bandrow
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Post by takahe on Dec 16, 2014 13:57:21 GMT -8
Here is a better picture of the middle one - I've relaxed and re spread it so the legs and antennae are visible though it is missing one leg. It doesn't have the orange antennal clubs.  |
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Post by bandrow on Dec 16, 2014 21:16:48 GMT -8
Hi Bradleigh,
Remounting it helped a lot - I'm confident that this is Nicrophorus defodiens as well.
Were you able to see the hairs on the elytra of the two specimens I suspected to be orbicollis?
Cheers!
Bandrow
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Post by takahe on Dec 16, 2014 23:20:12 GMT -8
Yes, both had remnants of hairs on the elytra. I think you are correct.
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Post by bandrow on Dec 17, 2014 19:59:18 GMT -8
Good - glad to have been able to help...
Cheers!
Bandrow
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