1988] 
Kozol, Scott, & Traniello — Nicrophorus 
173 
Scott unpublished data) although some species have a second popu- 
lation peak in mid to late summer when tenerals emerge. In late July 
and early August N. americanus were still readily captured at car- 
rion. Wilson and Knollenberg (1984) have suggested that pitfall 
traps provide biased samples as they represent a feeding opportunity 
rather than a reproductive opportunity. This may explain the 
decrease in pitfall captures observed on Block Island. 
As is generally true of Nicrophorus spp., N. americanus require 
carrion to bury and use as a reproductive resource and their repro- 
ductive behavior is similar to that described for other Nicrophorus 
species (Pukowski 1933, Wilson and Fudge 1984, Scott and Tra- 
niello 1987). Male and female N. americanus are attracted to fresh 
carrion and intrasexual competition occurs within each sex until 
usually only one male and female remain. Interspecific competition 
may also occur for possession of a carcass. In one case on Block 
Island, an N. marginatus female was found burying a 60 gram 
quail on July 30. The female was found with a male N. marginatus 
on the following day, although the carcass was still not completely 
buried. The quail was exhumed on August 1 and a male and female 
N. americanus were the only beetles collected with the carrion. 
N. americanus may cooperate in burying carrion, but individuals 
of both sexes are capable of burying a carcass alone. Three carcasses 
(a 90 gram rat, an 87 gram hamster, and a 229 gram chick) were 
buried by a lone female. Two carcasses were buried alone by a male 
N. americanus, a 70 gram rat and a 90 gram rat. In the former, the 
male was still alone on the second day after burial, while in the 
latter, the male was found with a female two days after he had 
buried the carcass. In all the above examples, the carcasses had been 
prepared by the parent(s) for the larvae in a fashion similar to that 
described for other Nicrophorus species (Pukowski 1933, Wilson 
and Fudge 1984, Scott and Traniello 1987). The carrion is shaved, 
rolled into a ball, and treated with anal and oral secretions. The 
female lays eggs in the soil near the carcass and altricial, lightly 
sclerotized larvae hatch within a few days. The larvae are fed regur- 
gitated food by both the male and female parents. Approximately 
two weeks after burial the larvae complete development and pupate 
in the soil nearby. Data from laboratory broods indicate that adults 
eclose from 48 to 65 days after burial and range in size (pronota! 
width) from 7.83 to 12.71 mm. The range in size of individuals 
