Eremeev E.A., Psarev A.M. 2017. [Peculiarities of the ecology of Nicrophorus morio Gebler, 1817 (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in forest-steppe of West Siberia, Russia] // Euroasian Entomological Journal. Vol.16. No.1: 63–66 [in Russian, with English summary].
The Shukshin Altai State Humanities Pedagogical University, Korolenko Str. 53, Biysk 659333 Russia.
E-mail: engkent007eu@gmail.com
doi: 10.15298/euroasentj.16.1.11
ABSTRACT. This study considers the ecological peculiarities of Nicrophorus morio Gebler, 1817. In the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia this species prefers open, well-warmed habitats, and therefore belongs to the meadow-steppe habitat group of Silphidae for the region. However, in searching for a substrate N. morio can penetrate beneath the canopy of the pine forest growing on sandy soils and bordering on the steppe areas. Clear preference to meat baits rather than fish baits and a preference for habitats associated with sandy soils seem to be connected with previously described ecological peculiarities of the species. Unlike the closely related N. germanicus inhabiting hard soils and large carrion, N. morio prefers sandy soils where it buries the corpses of small rodents.
KEY WORDS: Insect ecology, carrion beetles, Silphidae, Nicrophorus morio, habitat differentiation, trophic preferences.