InsectNet forum

I accidentally made a fake color morph.



This nicrophorus was near my MV and I didn't feel like bagging it, so I tossed it into the pan of soapy water under the MV. The next morning the protonum had turned white, and still is.

Hi Chuck,

I think you're on the level - this appears to be a specimen of Nicrophorus tomentosus, which has dense yellowish pubescence on the pronotum - the only species in the U.S. with a hairy pronotum...

No fakery here!

Cheers!
Bandrow

bandrow wrote: Fri Jul 07, 2023 6:03 pm Hi Chuck,

I think you're on the level - this appears to be a specimen of Nicrophorus tomentosus, which has dense yellowish pubescence on the pronotum - the only species in the U.S. with a hairy pronotum...

No fakery here!

Cheers!
Bandrow

But it was black! or dark brown. And it's not the pubescence, the exoskeleton (or, what's under it) is now white-ish.

Must have been covered in rotting flesh or mud before you cleaned it off.

Chris Grinter wrote: Sat Jul 08, 2023 4:43 pm Must have been covered in rotting flesh or mud before you cleaned it off.

Interesting. Thanks Chris and Bob.