Preference různě staré mršiny u nekrofágních mrchožroutovitých brouků (Coleoptera: Silphidae) ve střední Evropě

Abstract: We observed the carrion succession stage preference of necrophagous carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in Žabovřesky nad Ohří (Libochovice env.) in northern Bohemia. We used pitfall traps with mouse carrion of different ages (three days old and fresh) to test the hypothesis that burying beetles (Nicrophorus Fabricius, 1775) prefer carcasses in an early stage of decay, in contrast to the other necrophagous carrion beetles (represented by two species of the genus Thanatophilus Leach, 1815) which are attracted to older carcasses. We found no sex- or species related difference in carrion preference in either Nicrophorus or Thanatophilus species. Moreover, all species showed a significantly higher preference for the three days old carcasses than for the fresh ones. These results contradict previously published findings stating that the burying beetles (genus Nicrophorus) are mostly attracted to fresh carrion, whereas the other necrophagous carrion beetles are generally attracted to older carcasses. We discuss the possible explanations for this phenomenon and indicate the direction of our future research.

Key words: Coleoptera, Silphidae, ecology, carrion succession stage, diet habit, pitfall traps, Czech Republic, central Europe