Elytra pattern variability of Nicrophorus investigator (Coleoptera, Silphidae)

The analysis of variability of elytra pattern of Nicrophorus investigator was carried out in Petrozavodsk. Two elytra patterns of this burying beetle – typical and rare - were found using Quantum GIS 2.2.0 and Microsoft Excel programs. The typical form has a characteristic black pattern of spots and bridges connecting them against an orange background. The rare form features reduced size of dark areas. Thus, this investigation revealed that the studied feature varies almost continuously and has a normal distribution. It was found, that variability is not the same for elytra pattern elements. It was estimated, that the spots are more variable than the bridges