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Psyche 
[Vol. 89 
origin of parental care in Nicrophorus. Ptomascopus is the only 
other genus in the tribe Nicrophorini and contains only two Asian 
species, P. morio being more common and widespread than P. 
plagiatus Menetries (Hlisnikowski, 1942). It is illustrated in many 
general Japanese insect books such as Esaki et al. (1932, 1956), 
Nakane et al. (1963), and Nakane (1980). The larvae are illustrated 
by K. Kurosa in Kawada (1959). 
The genus shares with Nicrophorus many derived morphological 
characters relative to the Silphini: adults with stridulatory files, 
reduced second antennal segment, fused gular sutures, sexually 
dimorphic membranous anticlypeus; larvae with abdominal para- 
notal projections and cuticular sclerotization reduced, and with only 
one pair of ocelli. 
The main morphological characters in which Ptomascopus is 
more primitive than Nicrophorus are in its possession of a normally 
clavate antennal club, rather than with a strongly capitate club 
formed from the last four segments, and in its less fossorial tibiae. 
Methods and Materials 
Four pairs of P. morio were collected in August, 1980, at carrion 
baits in a warm-temperate mixed mesophytic forest in the Omogo 
Valley of Mount Ischizuchi Quasi-National Park, Shikoku, Japan. 
They were brought to Ottawa, Canada, and placed in culture at 
18° C, with a normal daylight regime, from September to December. 
The pairs were kept in separate seven cm deep boxes of clear plastic, 
floored with five cm of coarse damp sand. Two cm cubes of chicken 
neck were given as carrion food at required intervals. Observations 
were made daily. The data gained are variable in quantity and 
quality and are usually not abundant enough for tests of signifi- 
cance. Only simple means, sample sizes, and ranges are reported, 
but these are sufficient for comparative purposes. 
Results 
Both sexes dug irregular tunnels in the sand but not in direct 
association with the carrion. Most of their time was spent in these 
tunnels. They fed at the carrion and sporadically dug under it, but 
there was no direct indication of digging with the intention of 
burying the food, or of manipulating the food into a food ball, or of 
forming a crypt for it. Mating was observed occasionally but no 
indication of a courtship ritual was noted. 
