Extra-pair copulations in nicrophorus humator (Gleditsch, 1767) (Nicrophorus Kirby; Silphidae, Coleoptera)

Abstract

The parent instincts male burying beetles, Nicrophorus spp. are put under doubt when, conspecific females invade on a substratum prepared for oviposition. Though females provide males with padding possibilities of pairing, they put under threat a survival of the male's brood of "parent". To research sexual answer of the parent's males to females, which invade in their nests, we added the virginal beetles (female) to nest conspecific a steam, which already have initiated to care of descendants. Half of the females (invader) were inseminated by males the parents in trials, with Nicrophorus humator (Gleditsch, 1767). In work the author reduces the experimental data obtained during laboratory learning of genesial cycle and the sexual ratioes for the beetles of a genus Nicrophorus Kirby Nicrophorus humator. Extra-pair copulations for Coleoptera are poorly investigated. In work this act for N. humator for the first time is featured. In work we shall try to give an explanation to the obtained outcomes