Effect of Parental Care on the Duration of Larval Development and Offspring Survival inNicrophorus mexicanusMatthews (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

Abstract

Under laboratory conditions, we tested the effects of parental presence and parental manipulation of the food resource on larval development and offspring survival in Nicrophorus mexicanus Matthews. The three study groups were (1) control, with parental care (brood mass present and feeding of larvae by trophallaxis); (2) brood mass present but parents removed; and (3) without parental care (brood mass not present and parents removed). Duration of larval development from stage L1 to the end of stage L3 was significantly different among the three groups. The number of adults emerging also was different among the groups. Parental presence and manipulation of the brood mass were required for larvae to reach adulthood. In contrast, when both parents and brood mass were absent, few juveniles reached adulthood.