In 2019, 34 American burying beetles (Nicrophorus americanus) 21 females and 13 males, were recorded on Block Island in the course of moth surveying. Of these, 3 (2 female, 1 male) were recorded at MV porch lights that were turned on nightly; the rest were found drawn to UV lights during regular blacklighting surveying done around the island. These results suggest the species may be substantially more strongly drawn to UV light than to visible light; trials using UV lights at the location used for MV light surveying would test this hypothesis. The strong bias in favor of females in the results suggest that females are, relative to males, more strongly drawn to lights, more active flyers, or both.

The beetles were found as early as 17 June and as late as 20 September and were found on 12 of 14 blacklighting nights from 17 June to 2 August, inclusive. None were sighted during any of several blacklighting sessions in early June. No individuals were sighted during the final two blacklighting surveys of the summer season, 6 and 15 August. No surveying was conducted after 16 August except 20-21 September. A single male found 29 September 2018 represents the latest record of the species on Block Island, and a female found 1 June 2017 is the earliest. A dead rodent under one of the sheets used during blacklighting on 20 September 2019 likely helped attract the two males found at that sheet. All sighted individuals were photographed dorsally, with the exception of a single female found 28 June, and careful comparison of elytral markings revealed no repeat sightings.

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Table of 2019 American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) sightings on Block Island. All were found at UV lights except where otherwise noted. All blacklighting nights between 17 June and 2 August are included in the table.

                        m             f
17 vi                 1             2
22 vi                 0             1
24 vi (MV)        1             0
26 vi                 0             0
27 vi                 0             0
28 vi                 1             3
1 vii                  1             0
5 vii                  2             2
9 vii                  1             1
11 vii                1             0
16 vii                0             1
21 vii                1             3
24 vii                0             3
26 vii                1             1
29 vii (MV)       0             1
31 vii (MV)       0             1
2 viii                 1             2
20 ix                 2             0