APPENDIX C
BIONOMICS
Appendix C. Bionomic information on select species of the 68 that showed significant carcass effects (Tables 8,9,10). Only those species identified to their latin bionomial are included. Also, for each species the following information is provided: year: abundance in carcass traps/abundance in control traps; P-value for Chi-squared test from Tables 8, 9 and 10.
Silphidae
Thanatophilus lapponicus (Herbst)1978: 467/1; P=0.000. 1993: 7688/4: P=0.000
Thanatophilus lapponicus is Holarctic in distribution and one of North America's more common carrion beetles-- particularly so in the north and at high elevations (Peck & Kaulbars 1987). This species, as a typical member of the family, is an obligate carrion feeder. Its dominance at carrion in YNP is well documented.
Heterosilpha ramosa (Say)
1993: 9/1; P=0.011
This species is another typical silphid, or carrion beetle, is western in distribution, known from many records in Wyoming and is most frequently encountered in open prairie and shrub steppe habitats (Peck & Kaulbars 1987).
Nicrophorus investigator Zetterstedt
1993: 23/0; P=0.000
Nicrophorus guttula Motschulsky
1993: 15/0; P=0.000
Nicrophorus hybridus Hatch & Angell
1993: 14/3; P=0.007
Nicrophorus defodiens Mannerheim
1993: 5/0; P=0.025
Species of the genus Nicrophorus, commonly known as burying beetles, generally require small carcasses ( < 100 g) to reproduce, although the adults are often found feeding at larger carcasses (Peck & Kaulbars 1987). These four species have been documented to occur within Wyoming (loc. cit.).
Agyrtidae
Apteroloma tenuicorne LeConte1978: 25/9; P=0.049
Species of the family Agyrtidae are known associates of rotting organic matter, but are uncommon and poorly known (Anderson & Peck 1985). This species is distributed within the western coastal states and the northern Rocky Mountain states, apparently avoids xeric habitats and no larvae of the genus are described (loc. cit.). Agyrtids are most active during the colder months of winter, spring and autumn (loc. cit.).
Leiodidae
Catops basilaris Say1978: 78/1; P=0.000
Species of this family are abundant in decaying organic materials, such as carrion, dung and fungi, although certain groups are specialist associates of particular fungi (White 1963; Lawrence & Britton 1994).
Scraptiidae
Anaspis rufa Say1978: 188/18; P=0.000
Scraptiids are often found on flowers and foliage and Lawrence and Britton (1994) record no trophic information nor mention any saprophillic tendencies. Given this limited information, the results from this study might represent a significant increase in knowledge.
Histeridae
Saprinus oregonensis LeConte1978: 133/2; P=0.000. 1993: 815/4; P=0.000
Saprinus lugens Erichson
1978: 36/0; P=0.000. 1993: 16/0; P=0.000
This family is almost entirely predaceous and species are commonly found at carrion, dung and other decomposing matter where they prey on fly larvae (White 1963).
Staphylinidae
Creophilus maxillosus (L.)1978: 129/0; P=0.000. 1993: 158/0; P=0.000
The only Nearctic species in the genus, a known predator of adult and immature Diptera associated with carrion (Moore & Legner 1979).
Falagria dissecta Erichson
1978: 5/0; P=0.049. 1993: 120/5; P=0.000
The most common species of the tribe Falagriini in the Nearctic (north of Mexico), (Hoebeke 1985). Recorded from Wyoming but not from YNP, with a transcontinental distribution (loc. cit.). This species has been found with various decomposing organic matters (e.g. vegetation, dung, carrion, fungi)(loc. cit). It has also been taken from the nests of rodents such as beaver, marmot, and two Microtus spp. (loc. cit.).
Ontholestes cingulatus (Grav.)
1993: 25/0; P=0.000
Two species in this genus are known from the eastern USA and Canada (Moore & Legner 1979). This species is recorded as a very active predator associated with dung (loc. cit).
Borboropora quadriceps (Leconte)
1978: 19/0; P=0.000. 1993: 23/0; P=0.000
This species is known from only 36 specimens collected east of 92° longitude (Hoebeke 1985). The 42 specimens collected in YNP represent a 2100 km range extension. This species has been collected from carrion and in the nest of a buzzard (loc. cit.).
Tachinus angustatus Horn
1993: 15/2; P=0.002
Campbell (1973) records this species as common in Idaho, Montana and Utah but no records were known from Wyoming. No trophic level information is recorded regarding T. angustatus (loc. cit.).
Tachinus basalis Erichson
1978: 9/0; P=0.008
Campbell (1973) documents T. basalis to have a circumpolar distribution and records this species from Jackson, Wyoming. This species has been recorded from carrion, fungi and dung (loc. cit.).
Aleochara verna Say
1993: 4/0; P=0.045
This species is common in the Nearctic and one Wyoming record is known (Klimaszewski 1984). Aleochara verna is often found at dung and carrion and is an economically important parasitoid of Anthomyiid and Sarcophagid flies (loc. cit.).
Anthicidae
Notoxus serratus LeConte1978: 70/1; P=0.000
Anthicids are thought to be general scavengers and are often found in decomposing vegetation and litter (Lawrence & Britton 1994). Some species are predaceous, but the biology of the family is poorly known (White 1963).
Cleridae
Necrobia violacea L.1978: 58/0; P=0.000. 1993: 605/0; P=0.000
Recorded to feed on carrion (White 1963). One of three species in the genus in North America, of which one, Necrobia rufipes (DeG.), is a minor pest of stored animal tissues (loc. cit.)
Dermestidae
Dermestes fasciatus LeConte1978: 50/1; P=0.000. 1993: 87/0; P=0.000
Dermestes talpinus Mannerheim
1978: 144/2; P=0.000. 1993: 11/0; P=0.001
Species of the genus Dermestes are principally scavengers of dried animal tissues, such as fur, skin, feathers, wool, leather and well known associates of carcasses in late stages of decomposition (White 1963).
Trachypachidae
Trachypachus holmbergi Mannerheim1978: 201/33; P=0.000
Little is known of this species' ecology other than it being abundant in xeric areas of sparse vegetation (Lindroth 1961). This species was restricted to and very common at site 3, a Douglas-Fir covered, river-side habitat. No record of carrion or saprophillic associations.
Carabidae
Agonum cupreum Dejean1993: 89/11; P=0.000
A species abundant in areas of sparse vegetation, common in prairies (Lindroth 1966). No record of carrion or saprophillic associations.
Bembidion dyschirinum LeConte
1993: 29/7; P=0.021
An unusual species for the genus, which is generally associated with riprarian habitats, due to its abundance in xeric, highland, open habitats (Lindroth 1963). No record of carrion or saprophillic associations.
Syntomus americanus Dejean
1993: 74/42: P=0.003
The species is transcontinental north of Colorado (Lindroth 1969). A known xerophilous species abundant in areas of sparse vegetaion (loc. cit.). No record of carrion or saprophillic associations.
Calathus ingratus Dejean
1978: 20/74; P=0.000
This species is one of the most common beetles of the northern Nearctic conifer forests (Lindroth 1966). The trapping data indicated this species avoided carcass traps, a phenomenon unreported previously.
Microlestes curtipennis Casey
1993: 0/6; P=0.015
This is a poorly known, rare species with only a single United States (Utah) record (Lindroth 1969). No ecological information other than a tendency for species of this genus to inhabit xeric habitats is provided by Lindroth (1969). Trapping data indicated this species avoided carcass traps.
Hyrdrophilidae
Sphaeridium lunatum Fabricius1993: 45/0; P=0.000
A palaearctic species introduced into North America in the early 20th century and currently transcontinental in distribution (Smetana 1978). This species is considered the closest relative to Sphaeridium scarabaeoides LeConte and is strongly associated with mammal dung, in which it reproduces (loc. cit). Smetana (1978) recorded one Wyoming record, just south of YNP.
Sphaeridium scarabaeoides LeConte
1993: 32/0; P=0.000
A palearctic species introduced into North America near the end of the 18th century and currently transcontinental in distribution (Smetana 1978). Smetana (1978) states that this species is a specialist on mammal dung, in which it reproduces. Three Wyoming records but none from YNP are documented (loc. cit.).
Cryptopleurum minutum (Fabricius)1978: 8/0; P=0.013. 1993: 4/0; P=0.045
A palearctic species introduced into North America in the early 19th century and now widely distributed across the Nearctic (Smetana 1978). This species is found associated with various types of decomposing organic matter, particularly dung and plant debris and it has been taken from carrion (loc. cit.). Smetana (1978) records no specimens from Wyoming.
Trogidae
Trox sonorae LeConte1978: 70/0; P=0.000. 1993: 21/0; P=0.000
This genus is a well known associate of dried animal tissues and is commonly found at older carcasses and within animal nests (Vaurie 1955). Trox sonorae is distributed along the Rocky Mountains from Canada south into Mexico and has been collected at carrion (loc. cit.). Vaurie (1955) documents numerous Wyoming records.
Scarabaeidae
Aphodius fimentarius (L.)1978: 42/0; P=0.000
This species was introduced into North America from Europe and is currently widespread across the continent, although it is less common in the Rocky Mountain states (Ratcliffe 1991). This species and genus are dung specialists, using mammal dung to reproduce (loc. cit.). The relative absence of this species in the 1993 data set compared to the 1978 data set is remarkable.
Canthon simplex LeConte
1993: 6/21; P=0.004
There are 19 species in this genus in North America and they are often found rolling balls of dung which they use to provision a nest for their larvae (Ratcliffe 1991). The apparent active avoidance of the carcass traps by this species contradicts the reported biology, as they are occassionally found at carrion (loc. cit.).
Lathridiidae
Enicmus mimus Fall1978: 19/0; P=0.000. 1993: 62/2; P=0.000
Corticarina cavicollis (Mannerheim)
1978: 22/1; P=0.000. 1993: 82/20; P=0.000
Melanophthalma villosa Zimmermann
1993: 36/9; P=0.000
Species of this family feed on fungi and molds and are often found at rotting organic materials (White 1963).
Curculionidae
Otiorhynchus ovatus (L.)1978: 213/79; P=0.000. 1993: 275/204; P=0.001
Introduced from Europe (Kissinger 1964). The common name of this species is the strawberry root weevil (loc. cit.), although it apparently feeds on the root tissues of most plants, including conifers. This species was one of the most common beetles in all traps and sites. Almost all the species in this family are phytophagous and the greater presence of this species in carcass traps (Tables 8,9) is perplexing. Although this species is widespread in the Nearctic Warner and Negley (1976) document no records from western Wyoming.
Nitidulidae
Nitidula ziczac Say1993: 8/0; P=0.005
Omosita inversa LeConte
1978: 20/0; P=0.000
This family contains species that are known associates of rotting organic matter, including carrion (White 1963).