Title: Orientation of Carrion Beetles to Carrion: Random or Non-random?
Abstract: Carrion-baited ground cans were used to collect carrion beetles in Hutcheson Memorial Forest during the summers of 1961 through 1965. Fingernail polish colors were used to mark the elytra of the carrion beetles utilized in the orientation studies; the release points of the recaptured individuals were thus identifiable. The rate of return to carrion by Silpha noveboracensis from distances of 5 to 75 meters was apparently due to random wandering and not because of orientation to carrion odors. The periphery of odor percep? tion is about 1 meter from carrion when the movement of air is negligible. Carrion beetles were shown clearly to be attracted to carrion. However, the distance of this attraction is much less than what has generally been believed. In this study S. noveboracensis was four? teen times more apt to return to carrion than Nicrophorus sp. from 5 meters, whereas in a reported New England study these two species were about equally attracted to carrion from the same distance. A much greater overall return of Silphidae in the New England study was reported than is herein observed.
Publication Year: 2016
Publication Date: 2016-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 4
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