Post by trehopr1 on Apr 5, 2020 1:08:50 GMT
The largest extant species of America's burying beetle family (Silphidae); has now been a critically endangered species for 31 years. The Giant carrion beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) was listed as an endangered species in 1989. Historical records show that this beetle once lived in 35 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, and three Canadian provinces: Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.
Now, natural populations are known only to occur in 5 states and at least one province. Biologists have not determined conclusively why N. americanus has disappeared from so many areas. However, some ecologists and coleopterists have postulated that habitat loss, changes in land use (which has reduced the quantity of small-medium birds and mammals preferred by N. americanus), and of coarse some measure of pesticide and or herbicide usage have all "chipped away" at the species vitality.
This magnificent and flamboyantly colored "caretaker of the dead" measures 41mm or so... Because, of where one must look for carrion beetles to even find them; much less all the associated unpleasantness -- few are seen in private collections.
My singular example is A1 perfect and was purchased from an aging beetle hobbyist whom I got to know years ago. It was collected on July.16.1932 in Chicago Ill./Cook Co., Roger's Park neighborhood.
Now, natural populations are known only to occur in 5 states and at least one province. Biologists have not determined conclusively why N. americanus has disappeared from so many areas. However, some ecologists and coleopterists have postulated that habitat loss, changes in land use (which has reduced the quantity of small-medium birds and mammals preferred by N. americanus), and of coarse some measure of pesticide and or herbicide usage have all "chipped away" at the species vitality.
This magnificent and flamboyantly colored "caretaker of the dead" measures 41mm or so... Because, of where one must look for carrion beetles to even find them; much less all the associated unpleasantness -- few are seen in private collections.
My singular example is A1 perfect and was purchased from an aging beetle hobbyist whom I got to know years ago. It was collected on July.16.1932 in Chicago Ill./Cook Co., Roger's Park neighborhood.
