Thanatophilus lapponicus (Herbst)

Description: This species is another small member of the subfamily Silphinae (9.4 to 14.0 mm in length). The head and thorax are black, while the pronotom is covered with dense yellow setae and the elytra are covered with an intricate design of tubercles .

Similar Species: Though it could be confused with Heterosilpha ramosa, it is smaller and not nearly as black in color.

Range: Occurs from Alaska and Canada south to Arizona, Kansas, and Virginia. It occurs throughout Nebraska.

Notes: This diurnal species is active in Nebraska from March through October and tends to show a preference for the wide-open habitats characteristic of rangeland.