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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Department of Entomology

Faculty - Dr. Brett C. Ratcliffe

Brett's picture
Professor and Curator
University of Nebraska State Museum
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
W-436 Nebraska Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0514
Phone: (402) 472-2614
FAX: (402) 472-8949
EMail:BRATCLIFFE1@UNL.EDU
Web Site: http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/entomology/

 

Appointment:
80% Research, 20% Teaching. Curator of Insects, University of Nebraska State Museum, Systematics Research Collections

 

Education:
  1. B.S. in Entomology and Zoology with a minor in English/Geography, University of Nebraska, 1968
  2. M.S. in Entomology, University of Nebraska, 1970
  3. Ph.D. in Entomology, University of Nebraska, 1975

 

Professional Responsibilities and Activities:
  • Professor and Curator in the Museum, responsible for a collection of ca. 2 million specimens.
  • Specialist in the taxonomy, biology, ecology, phylogeny, and biogeography of scarab beetles.
  • Has conducted research and collected in the Neotrophics annually for the past 30 years.

 

Foreign Fieldwork:
  • 1960-1961 Japan (in residence).
  • 1962 Mexico for one week.
  • 1971 Mexico and Belize for four weeks.
  • 1974 Amazonian Colombia and Peru for three weeks.
  • 1974 Mexico for one week.
  • 1975 Panama for two weeks.
  • 1976 Panama for two weeks.
  • 1976-1978 Amazonian Brazil; numerous other trips to remote areas in northern andsouthern Brazil and Peru (in residence).
  • 1977 Panama for two weeks.
  • 1980 Panama for two weeks.
  • 1980 Brazil for two weeks.
  • 1981 Mexico for two weeks.
  • 1982 Panama for three weeks.
  • 1983 northern Mexico for one week.
  • 1984 Mexico for two weeks.
  • 1985 Mexico for two weeks.
  • 1986 Panama and Costa Rica for three weeks.
  • 1987 Southern Mexico for three weeks; south-central Mexico for two weeks.
  • 1988 Costa Rica for three weeks.
  • 1989 Mexico for three weeks.
  • 1990 Costa Rica for three weeks.
  • 1991 Mexico for three weeks.
  • 1991 Brazil for two weeks.
  • 1992 Costa Rica for three weeks.
  • 1993 Guatemala for one week.
  • 1993 Panama for two weeks.
  • 1994 Panama for three weeks.
  • 1994 Mexico for one week.
  • 1995 Panama for two and one-half weeks, Costa Rica for three and one-half weeks.
  • 1996 South Africa for four weeks.
  • 1997 Honduras and Costa Rica for three weeks.
  • 1998 Ecuador for three weeks.
  • 1999 Venezuela for three weeks.
  • 2000 Honduras for twoweeks.
  • 2000 Brazil for three weeks.
  • 2001 Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador for three weeks.
  • 2002 Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador for two weeks.
  • 2003 Chile and Argentina for three weeks.
  • 2004 Costa Rica for one week.
  • 2004 Costa Rica for one week again.
  • 2005 Mexico for one week.
  • 2006 Bolivia for two weeks.

 

Selected Grants and Contracts (ca $2.2 million):

Grants:
  • 1980 AID & Dept. of Interior (via World Wildlife Fund); $4,100 for project on minimum critical size of ecosystem in Amazonian Brazil.
  • 1980 National Academy of Sciences. One month East European Scientific Exchange to the German Democratic Republic.
  • 1985 Institute of Museum Services; $24,648 for collection conservation.
  • 1986 University of Nebraska Foundation; $3,350 for collecting in Panama and Costa Rica.
  • 1987 Institute of Museum Services; $10,065 for collection conservation.
  • 1992 Center for Great Plains Studies; $5,000 research fellowship.
  • 1992 National Science Foundation (Biotic Surveys & Inventories); $189,149.
  • 1995 University of Nebraska; $30,000 for Museum facilities improvement.
  • 1995 University of Nebraska Foundation; $4,230 for research/collecting trip to South Africa.
  • 1996 University of Nebraska Research Council; $3,000 for research/collecting trip to Honduras.
  • 1997 University of Nebraska; $15,000 for publishing Museum Bulletin series.
  • 1997 National Science Foundation; $740,000 for research and student training (PEET) (co-PI with Mary Liz Jameson).
  • 1998 National Science Foundation (Biotic Inventories & Surveys); $293,000.
  • 1999 National Science Foundation; $38,000 for cabinets to house the national collection of Scarabaeidae on long-term loan from the Smithsonian (PEET supplemental) (co-PI with Mary Liz Jameson).
  • 2000 National Science Foundation; $10,000 for Research Experience for Undergraduates as supplemental to NSF/PEET project (co-PI with M. Jameson).
  • 2000 National Science Foundation; $50,233 supplemental grant to NSF/Biotic Surveys grant.
  • 2001 National Science Foundation; $750,000 for research and student training (PEET) (co-PI with Mary Liz Jameson).
  • 2005 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission; $6,000 for book publication.
  • 2006 National Science Foundation: $5,300 for Research Experience for Undergraduates as supplemental to NSF/PEET project (co-PI with M. Jameson).
  • 2007 National Science Foundation (Biotic Inventories & Surveys); $480,000.


Contracts:

  • 1980 The Nature Conservancy; $4,500 for insect faunal survey of Mormon Island Refuge.
  • 1985 NSF via University of Kansas; $1,800 for insect identification.
  • 1989 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; $5,000 for survey of endangered species (Nicrophorus americanus) in eastern half of Nebraska. Co-principal Investigator.
  • 1990 Nebraska Public Power District; $7,000 for survey of endangered species in vicinity of Sutherland, NE.
  • 1990 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; $2,073 for survey of endangered species in Sargent Irrigation District, Sargent, NE.
  • 1990 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; $5,000 for publication of book.
  • 1991 South Dakota Dept. of Transportation; $1,727 for endangered species survey near Philip, SD; co-principal investigator.
  • 1991 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; $1,256 for endangered species survey on Platte River Island near Kearney, NE. Co-principal investigator.
  • 1991 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, $1,227 for endangered species survey near Grand Island, NE.
  • 1991 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, $1,280 for endangered species survey near Ft. Calhoun, NE.
  • 1992-2000 Pathology Medical Services, P.C., variable amounts and dates for forensic entomology expertise.
  • 1993 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, $4,140 for endangered species survey near Bellevue, NE.
  • 1993 Black & Veatch Engineering, $1,887 for endangered species survey near Nebraska City, NE.
  • 1994 Nebraska Dept. of Roads, $5,810 for endangered species survey at Niobrara, NE, and Running Water, SD. Co-principal investigator.
  • 1995 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service via Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, $15,565 for student support and endangered species research.
  • 1995 Werner Construction Co., $2,572 for endangered species survey near Alda, NE.
  • 1995 Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA), $9,484 for endangered species survey at seven sites in eastern Nebraska.
  • 1995 Peterson Environmental Consulting, Inc., $4,391 for endangered species survey near Plattsmouth, NE.
  • 1997 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission; $15,800 for endangered species surveys in Nebraska.

 

Publications:
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and R. J. Luedtke. 1969. A comparison of silphids taken from covered and uncovered carrion (Coleoptera: Silphidae). Coleop. Bull. 23: 103-105.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1970. Collecting slime flux feeding Coleoptera in Japan. Entomological News 81: 255-256.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1972. The natural history of Necrodes surinamensis (Fabr.) (Coleoptera: Silphidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 98: 359-410.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1974. New distribution records for eleven species of Phyllophaga (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Entomological News 85: 72-75.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1976. A revision of the genus Strategus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 10: 93-204, 176 figs.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1976. Notes on the biology of Euphoriaspis hirtipes (Horn) with a description of the larva and pupa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Coleopterists Bulletin 30: 217-225.
  • Pike, K.S., R.L. Rivers, B.C. Ratcliffe, C.Y. Oseto and Z B Mayo. 1976. A world bibliography of the genus Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). University of Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station Miscellaneous Publication 32: 1-32.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1977. A case of tarantula induced vesicular dermatitis. Journal of Medical Entomology 13: 745-747.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1977. A description of the larva and pupa of Osmoderma subplanata Casey and Cremastocheilus wheeleri LeConte (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 50: 363-370.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1977. Four new species of Neotropical Cyclocephalini (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae). Acta Amazonica 7: 429-434.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1978. The systematic entomology collections of Brazil's National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA). Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America 24: 62.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1978. As coleções de entomologia sistematica do Instituto Naçional de Pesquisas da Amazonia (INPA-Manaus). Ciencia e Cultura 30: 627-628.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1978. A review of the genus Argyripa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Systematic Entomology 3: 371-378.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1978. A new species of Trox from the Amazon Basin with new distribution records for Central American Trox (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Acta Amazonica 8: 299-302.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1978. New species of Stenocrates from Brazil (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Acta Amazonica 8: 489-495.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and N. D. Penny. 1978. Catalogo dos tipos de invertebrados depositados nas coleções entomologicas do INPA-Manaus. Acta Amazonica 8: 689-697.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. and J.A. Fagerstrom. 1980. Invertebrate Lebensspuren of Holocene floodplains: their morphology, origin and paleoecological significance. Journal of Paleontology 54: 614-630.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1983. Reprinted in Sarjeant, William A.S. (Ed.), Terrestrial Trace Fossils. Benchmark Papers in Geology 76, p. 251-267. Hutchinson Ross Publ. Co., Stroudsburg, Pa.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. and Fortuné Chalumeau. 1980. Strategus syphax (Fabr.): A description of the third instar larva and pupa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 34: 85-93.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1981. New species of Coprini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) taken from the pelage of three toed sloths (Bradypus tridactylus L.) in central Amazonia with a commentary on scarab-sloth relationships. Coleopterists Bulletin 34: 337-350.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1981. The fourth Hylobothynus: spanning the Amazonian gap (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 35: 303-306.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1981. New species and distribution records of Surutu from Amazonian Brazil (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 35: 107-112.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1981. A redescription of Trichillum hirsutum Boucomont with notes on other interesting Brazilian Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Acta Amazonica 11: 183-186.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1981. Barutus hartmanni, a new genus and species from Panama with a key to the New World genera of Pentodontini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 35: 463-472.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1981. Xyloryctes jamaicensis (Drury) in Nebraska. Scarabaeus No. 4: 8.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1982. American Oryctini: Strategus verrilli Ratcliffe rediscovered and described, and new records and comments for other Strategus and Hispanioryctes (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 36: 352-357.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1983. Trox hamatus Robinson (Troginae) using a Canthon (Scarabaeinae) brood ball and new records of North American Trox (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 11: 53-55.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. and R.-P. Dechambre. 1983. New combinations, synonymy and distribution records for Neotropical Pentodontini and Oryctini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 37: 267-272.
  • Morón, Miguel and Brett C. Ratcliffe. 1984. Description of the larva and pupa of Argyripa lansbergei (Sallé) with new distributional records for the genus and a key to New World Gymnetini larvae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 86: 760-768.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1984. A review of the Penichrolucaninae with analyses of phylogeny and biogeography and description of a second New World species from the Amazon Basin (Coleoptera: Lucanidae). Quaestiones Entomologique 20: 60-87.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1985. The Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin. Scarabaeus No. 11: 1-3.
  • Penny, Norman D. and Brett C. Ratcliffe. 1985. Entomological collections and human resources in Brazil. ASC Newsletter 13: 21-24.
  • Boos, Julius and Brett C. Ratcliffe. 1985. A new subspecies of Inca clathrata (Olivier) from Trinidad, West Indies, and range extensions for Inca clathrata sommeri Westwood (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Trichiinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 39: 381-389.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1985. God is, forsooth, a scarab: a rebuttal to Acorn's repugnant carabid hypothesis. Biologie und Naturwissenschaften der Käfer 3: 9-19.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1986. New Species of Dyscinetus from the West Indies and South America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 40: 75-80.
  • Bown, Thomas M. and Brett C. Ratcliffe. 1988. The origin of Chubutolithes Ihering, ichnofossils from the Eocene and Oligocene of Chubut Province, Argentina. Journal of Paleontology 62: 163-167.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1988. New species and distributions of Neotropical Phileurini and a new phileurine from Burma (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 42: 43-55.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1988. A new species of Aphodius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Nebraska. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 16: 87-89.
  • Deloya, A.C. and Brett C. Ratcliffe. 1988. A synopsis of the genus Cotinis in Mexico with description of three new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae). Acta Zoologica Mexicana No. 28: 1-52.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. and Mary Liz Jameson. 1989. A synopsis of the genus Areoda (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 43: 135-144.
  • Morón, Miguel and Brett C. Ratcliffe. 1989. A synopsis of the American Goliathini with description of a new Neoscelis from Mexico (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 43: 339-348.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. and George Clark. 1989. Observations on the tunnel morphology of Heterocerus brunneus Melsh. (Coleoptera: Heteroceridae) and the paleoecological significance of insect traces. Journal of Paleontology 63: 228-232.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. (ed.). 1989. University of Nebraska State Museum. ASC Newsletter 17: 1, 3, 10-12.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. and Mary Liz Jameson. 1989. A new species of Pelidnota (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) from Panama. Coleopterists Bulletin 43: 259-262.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1989. A case of gynandromorphy in Golofa tersander (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Coleopterists Bulletin 43: 256-258.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1989. Corrections and clarifications to Endrödi's "The Dynastinae of the World." Coleopterists Bulletin 43: 275-278.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. and L. Delgado. 1990. New species and notes of Cyclocephala from Mexico (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Fol. Ent. Mexicana No. 80: 41-57.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1990. The significance of scarab beetles in the ethnoentomology of non-industrial, indigenous peoples. Proc. I Internat. Congr. Ethnobiology, Belem, Brazil, vol. 1: 159-185.
  • Morón, M. and B. C. Ratcliffe. 1990. Descriptions of Strategus larvae with a new key to species based on the larvae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Elytron 4: 53-66.
  • Ratcliffe, B.C. 1990. Prairie scarabs. The Nebraska perspective. American Entomologist 36: 28-35.
  • Howden, H.F. and B.C. Ratcliffe. 1990. An unusual new species of Trigonopeltastes Burmeister from Chiapas, Mexico (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Trichiinae). Canadian Entomologist 122: 1-4.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1990. An unusual method of pattern disruption in an Amazonian scarab beetle. Bol. Mus. Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Ser. Zool. 6: 109-113.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1991. The Passalidae and Lucanidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) of Nebraska. Great Plains Research 1: 249-282.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1992. Two new species of Cyclocephala from Arizona and Mexico and a note on melanistic C. melanocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 46: 250-255.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and C, Deloya. 1992. The biogeography and phylogeny of Hologymnetis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) with a revision of the genus. Coleopterists Bulletin 45: 161-202.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1992. Nine new species and 11 country records of Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) from Panama and Costa Rica. Coleopterists Bulletin 46: 216-235.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1992. A new species of Ancognatha from Panama (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 46: 256-259.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and M. L. Jameson. 1992. New Nebraska occurrences of the endangered American burying beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae). Coleop. Bull. 46: 421-425.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C., M. L. Jameson, and Terry Taylor. 1992. Two remarkable new species of Plusiotis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) from Mexico and Central America. Insecta Mundi 6: 1-5.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1992. New species and country records of Brazilian Cyclocephala Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Tidsch. voor Ent. 136: 179-190.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and C. L. Messenger. 1992. Vial support system for fluid collections, pp. 213-214. IN, C. Rose and A.R. de Torres (eds.), Storage of Natural History Collections: Ideas and Practical Solutions. Society for the Preservervation of Natural History Collections, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Jameson, M. L., B. C. Ratcliffe and M. M. Morón. 1994. A synopsis of the Neotropical genus Calomacraspis Bates with a key to larvae of the American genera of Rutelini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae). Ann. Ent. Soc. America 87: 43-58.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1994. Orizabus subaziro, a new species from Mexico (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 48: 91-93.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1995. American burying beetle. Nebraska's Threatened and Endangered Species insert in NEBRASKAland Mag. 73, 6 pp.
  • Maes, J.-M. and B. C. Ratcliffe. 1996. Scarabaeidae nuevos para la fauna de Nicaragua. Revista Nicaraguense de Entomologia 34: 17-18.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and M. A. Morón. 1997. Capítulo 3. Dynastinae, pp. 53-98. In Morón, Miguel A., Brett C. Ratcliffe, and Cuauhtemoc Deloya, Atlas de los Escarabajos de Mexico (Coleoptera: Lamellicornia). Vol. 1. Familia Melolonthidae. CONABIO and Sociedad Mexicana de Entomologia, Mexico. 280 pp.
  • Maes, J.-M., B. C. Ratcliffe, and M. L. Jameson. 1997. Fauna entomologica de la Reserva Natural BOSAWAS, Nicaragua. XI. Escarabajos (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) nuevos para la fauna de Nicaragua. Revista Nicaraguense de Entomologia 39: 41-45.
  • Morón, M. A. and B. C. Ratcliffe. 1997. New tribal placement of the genus Coscinocephalus Prell 1936, with description of the larva, pupa, and adult of a new species from Mexico (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Dynastinae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 104: 48-61.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1998. An unusual new unicorn species of Copris from Nicaragua (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae, Coprini. Coleopterists Bulletin 52: 93-96.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1998. Insects., pp. 143-154. In Bleed, A. S. and C. A. Flowerday (eds.), An Atlas of the Sand Hills. Resource Atlas 5b, Conservation and Survey Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 260 pp. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/44
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and M. A. Ivie. 1998. New species of Hemiphileurus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) from the Dominican Republic with a key to the West Indian species of Hemiphileurus. Coleopterists Bulletin 52: 201-208.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and A. B. T. Smith. 1999. New species of Canthonella Chapin (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from Amazonian Brazil. Coleopterists Bulletin 53: 1-7.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/21
  • Bedick, J. C., B. C. Ratcliffe, W. Wyatt Hoback and Leon G. Higley. 1999. Distribution, ecology, and population dynamics of the American burying beetle [Nicrophorus americanus Olivier (Coleoptera, Silphidae)] in south-central Nebraska, USA. Journal of Insect Conservation 3: 171-181.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1999. U. S. scarab collection moves to Nebraska. ASC Newsletter 27: 1 and 6.
  • Coca-Abia, M., P. Dominguez-Alonso, and B. C. Ratcliffe. 1999. Evidencias de actividad biológica producidas por artropodos terrestres a lo largo del tiempo geológico, pp. 213-221. In Melic, A., J. J. de Haro, M. Mendez, and I. Ribera (Eds.), Evolución y Filogenia de Arthropoda. Boletin de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (Monographic Volume) 26: 1-806.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2000. Dynastine scarab beetles of Monteverde, pp. 111-113. In Nadkarni, N. and N. Wheelwright (eds.), Monteverde. Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. 573 pp.
  • Mico, E., W. E. Hall, and B. C. Ratcliffe. 2001. Descriptions of the larvae of Hoplopyga singularis (Gory and Percheron) and Hologymnetis cinerea (Gory and Percheron) with a revised key to the larvae of New World Gymnetini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 55: 205-217. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/38/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and E. Mico. 2001. A review of the Neotropical genus Neocorvicoana Ratcliffe and Micó, new genus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini). Coleopterists Bulletin 55: 279-296. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/39/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and F. Ocampo. 2001. Tyrannasorus rex Ratcliffe and Ocampo, a new genus and species of Miocene hybosorid in amber from the Dominican Republic (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Hybosoridae). Coleopterists Bulletin 55: 351-355. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/46
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2001. New species of Hemiphileurus Kolbe (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and Brazil. Coleopterists Bulletin 55: 433-443. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/37/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and J. Christen. 2002 Lucanus elaphus Fabr. (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) discovered in Nebraska, with brief notes on its biology and identification. Entomological News 113: 68-70.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and R. D. Cave. 2002. New species of Cyclocephala from Honduras and El Salvador (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini). Coleopterists Bulletin 56: 152-157. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/36/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2002. A checklist of the Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) of Panama. Zootaxa 32: 1-48.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and F. Ocampo. 2002. A review of the genus Hylamorpha Arrow (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini: Brachysternina). Coleopterists Bulletin 56: 367-378. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/35/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2002. Review of the genus Palaeophileurus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Phileurini) with description of two new species from Peru. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 95: 335-339.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/24/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and P. C. Hammond. 2002. Insects and the native vegetation of Nebraska. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 28: 29-47.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/41.
  • Jameson, M. L., B. C. Ratcliffe, and V. Maly. 2002. Review of the genus Acrobolbia Ohaus with remarks on its classification and key to the world genera of Cyclocephalini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Folia Heyrovskyana 10: 1-15.
  • Jameson, M. L. and B. C. Ratcliffe. 2002. Series Scarabaeiformia Crowson 1960, Superfamily Scarabaeoidea Latreille 1802, pp. 1-5. In, Arnett, R. H., M. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (eds.), American Beetles, Volume 2. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 861 pp. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/50/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2002. Chapter 23. Lucanidae Latreille 1804, pp. 6-9. In, Arnett, R. H., M. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (eds.), American Beetles, Volume 2. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 861 pp.
  • Jameson, M. L. and B. C. Ratcliffe. 2002. Chapter 24. Diphyllosomatidae Holloway 1972, pp. 10-11. In, Arnett, R. H., M. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (eds.), American Beetles, Volume 2. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 861 pp.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C., M. L. Jameson, and A. B. T. Smith. 2002. Chapter 34. Scarabaeidae Latreille 1802, pp. 39-81 (in part). In, Arnett, R. H., M. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (eds.), American Beetles, Volume 2. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 861 pp.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2002. Chapter 34-V. Dynastinae MacLeay 1819, pp. 64-67. In, Arnett, R. H., M. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (eds.), American Beetles, Volume 2. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 861 pp.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2002. Chapter 34-VI. Cetoniinae Leach 1815, pp. 67-71. In, Arnett, R. H., M. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (eds.), American Beetles, Volume 2. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 861 pp.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2003. New species of Hemiphileurus Kolbe from Honduras and Guatemala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Phileurini). Coleopterists Bulletin 57: 334-338.
  • Mudge, A. D., B. C. Ratcliffe, R. L. Westcott, and F. A. Noguera F.A. 2003. A new species of Neoscelis from Jalisco, Mexico (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae). Folia Heyrovskyana 11:143-154. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/48/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2004. Comment on the proposed precedence of Bolboceras Kirby, 1819 (July) (Insecta, Coleoptera) over Odonteus Samouelle, 1819 (June). Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 61: 43. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/26
  • Bedick, J., B. C. Ratcliffe, and L. G. Higley. 2004. A new sampling protocol for the American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier (Coleoptera: Silphidae). Coleopterists Bulletin 58: 57-70. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/45
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and M. L. Jameson. 2004. The revised classification for Scarabaeoidea: what the hell is going on? Scarabs 15: 3-10. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/25
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2004. Lectotype designations in the New World Gymnetini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae). Zootaxa 729: 1-19.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and M. A. Morón. 2005. Larval descriptions of eight species of Megasoma Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) with a key for identification and notes on biology. Coleopterists Bulletin 59: 91-126. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/32
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2005. A review of the South American genus Hoplopygothrix Schürhoff (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini). Coleopterists Bulletin 59: 136-142. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/33/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and M. Hardy. 2005. Collagenus dasysternus, a new genus and species of Dynastinae from eastern Venezuela with a key to the New World genera of Pentodontini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 59: 143-150. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/22
  • Ratcliffe, B. C., D. M. Smith, and D. Erwin. 2005. Oryctoantiquus borealis, new genus and species from the Eocene of Oregon, U.S.A., the world's oldest fossil dynastine and largest fossil scarabaeid (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin 59: 127-135. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/34
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2005. VI Reunión Latinoamericana de Scarabaeoidologia. Scarabs 16: 16-24.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2006. Heterogomphus effeminatus, an unusual new species of rhinoceros beetle from French Guiana (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Oryctini). Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia 49b: 9-12.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2006. Scarab beetles in human culture (pp. 85-101). In, Jameson, M. L. and B. C. Ratcliffe (editors), Scarabaeoidea in the 21st Century: a Festschrift Honoring Henry F. Howden. Coleopterists Society Monograph 5, 216 pp.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and A. B. T. Smith. IN PRESS. Bothynus Hope, 1837 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae): designation of a new type species. Bulletin of the International Commission of Zoolgical Nomenclature.
  • Utz, R. M., B. C. Ratcliffe, B. T. Moore, and K. J. Hartman. 2007. Disproportionate relative importance of a terrestrial beetle family (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae) as a prey source for central Appalachian brook trout. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 136: 177-184.
  • Ratcliffe, B.C. and R.D. Cave. IN PRESS. A biotic survey and inventory of the dynastinescarab beetles of Central America, North America, and the Caribbean Regions: review of a long term, multi-country project. Zoosystema.
  • Cave, R. D. and B. C. Ratcliffe. IN PRESS. Un sondeo biótico e inventario de los escarabajos dynástinos de Meseamerica, Norteamerica y las Antillas: un proyecto multinacional de largo plazo. Folia Entomologica Mexicana.
  • Neita, J. C., J. Orozco, and B. C. Ratcliffe. 2006. Escarabajos (Scarabaeidae: Pleurosticti) de la selva baja del bosque pluvial tropical "BP-T", Chocó, Colombia. Acta Zoologica Mexicana 22: 1-32.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2007. A remarkable new species of Megaceras from Peru (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). The "Dim Effect": nature mimicking art, Coleopterists Bulletin 61: 463-467.
  • Neita Moreno, J. C., B. C. Ratcliffe, and G. Calberto. 2007 Immature stages of Aspidolea singularis (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini). Revista Colombiana de Entomología 33: 178-182
  • Genoways, H. H. and B. C. Ratcliffe. IN PRESS. Engineer Cantonment, Missouri Territory, 1819-1820: America's First Biodiversity Inventory. Great Plains Research.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2007. IN PRESS. More new species of Cyclocephala from South America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Coleopterists Bulletin.
  • Cave, R. D. and B. C. Ratcliffe. IN PRESS. Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer-Verlag.
  • Jacobs, J., I. Noble, S. Palminteri, and B. C. Ratcliffe. IN PRESS. First come, first serve: additional observations of "sit and wait" behavior in dung beetles at the true source of primate dung. Ecologia.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and R. D. Cave. IN PRESS. The Dynastinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of the Bahamas with a Description of a New Species of Cyclocephala from Great Inagua Island. Insecta Mundi.


Books
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1991. The Scarab Beetles of Nebraska. Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 12: 1-333.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1996. The Carrion Beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of Nebraska. Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 13: 1-100.
  • Morón, Miguel A., Brett C. Ratcliffe, and Cuauhtemoc Deloya. 1997. Atlas de los Escarabajos de Mexico (Coleoptera: Lamellicornia). Vol. 1. Familia Melolonthidae. CONABIO and Sociedad Mexicana de Entomologia, Mexico. 280 pp.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 2003. The Dynastine Scarab Beetles of Costa Rica and Panama. Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 16: 1-506.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. and Ronald D. Cave. 2006. The Dynastine Scarab Beetles of Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 21: 1-424.


Electronic Publications

Book Reviews
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1983. Book Review. The Nesting Behavior of Dung Beetles (Scarabaeinae). An Ecological and Evolutive Approach. By Gonzalo Halffter and W.D. Edmonds. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 91: 512-515.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1985. Book Review. Escarabajos. 200 Millones de Años de Evolucion. By Miguel Morón. Scarabaeus No. 11: 4.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1985. Book Review. Escarabajos. 200 Millones de Años de Evolucion. By Miguel Morón. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 93: 1277-1278.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1987. Book Review. The Dynastinae of the World. By S. Endrödi. Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America 33: 196-197.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1990. Book Review. The Scarab Beetles of Florida (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Part II. The May or June Beetles (genus Phyllophaga). By R. Woodruff and B. Beck. Florida Entomologist 73: 523-524.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1991. Book Review. The Beetles of the World, vol. 10. Rutelini premier partie by M.A. Morón. Coleopterists Bulletin 45: 14.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1993. Book Review. Dung Beetle Ecology. By I. Hanski and Y. Cambefort. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 86: 218-219.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1997. Book Review. An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles by A. Evans and C. Bellamy. Coleopterists Bulletin 51: 291-292.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1999. Book Review. The Cetoniine Beetles of the World by K. Sakai and S. Nagai. Coleopterists Bulletin 53: 145.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 1999. Book Review. Manu: The Biodiversity of Southeastern Peru by D. Wilson and A. Sandoval (eds.). American Entomologist 45: 122-123.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2000. Book Review. Carabid family values, a review of Bomby, the Bombardier Beetle by H. M. Rue. Annals of Improbable Research 6: 9. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/42
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2001. Book Review. Fauna Iberica, Volume 14: Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea I by F. Martin Piera and J. L. Lopez-Colón. Coleopterists Bulletin 55: 124.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2001. New Journal Review. Cetoniimania, a publication devoted to Cetoniinae, Valginae, and Trichiinae published by R. Alexis and M. Delpont. Coleopterists Bulletin 55: 123-124. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/43
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2001. Book Review. Bomby, the Bombardier Beetle by H. M. Rue. Coleopterists Bulletin 55: 241-242. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/42/
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2002. Book Review. Fauna of New Zealand No. 42. Aphodiinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) by Z. T. Stebnicka. Proceedings of the Washington Entomological Society 104: 823-824.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2006. Book Review. Atlas of Japanese Scarabaeoidea. Volume 1. Coprophagous Group by S. Kawai, S. Hori, M. Kawahara, and M. Inagaki (authors and editors). Coleopterists Bulletin 60: 70-71. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/47
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2007. Book Review. 2007. Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea, Scirtoidea, Dascilloidea, Buprestoidea, Byrrhoidea by I. Löbl and A. Smetana (editors). Coleopterists Bulletin 61: 427-428.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. Book Review. IN PRESS. Atlas of Japanese Scarabaeoidea. Volume 2. Phytophagous Group 1 by K. Sakai and M. Fujioka. Coleopterists Bulletin.


Abstracts
  • Fagerstrom, J.A. and B.C. Ratcliffe. 1975. Synopsis of Recent burrowing insects as analogues of non-marine trace fossils. Abstracts with Programs 7(7): 1070-1071. Ann. Meet. Geol. Soc. America, Calgary, Canada.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1977. Curating systematic entomology collections in the humid tropics: an overview. ASC Newsletter 5(3): 29.
  • Fagerstrom, J.A. and Brett C. Ratcliffe. 1979. Recent arthropod Lebensspuren as indicators of ancient flood-plain deposition. Program, p. 84. AAPG-SEPM Ann. Conv., Houston, Texas.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1984. Analyses of Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Penichrolucaninae (Coleoptera: Lucanidae). XVII International Congress of Entomology, Abstracts Volume, p. 21. Hamburg, Germany.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1988. A faunistic survey of the Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) of Nebraska. Proc., p. 62. XVIII International Congress of Entomology, Vancouver, Canada.
  • Morón, M.A. and B.C. Ratcliffe. 1988. Estudio sinoptico de las especies americanas de Goliathini (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Cetoniinae). Res., p. 355. XXIII Cong. Nac. Ent., Morelia, Mexico.
  • Deloya, Cuauhtemoc and Brett C. Ratcliffe. 1988. Las especies de Cotinis Burmeister (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Cetoniinae) en la Zona de Transicion Mexicana. Res., p. 356. XXIII Cong. Nac. Ent., Morelia, Mexico.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. and Cuauhtemoc Deloya. 1990. Analyses of phylogeny and biogeography of the genus Hologymnetis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae). Program, p. 179. Fourth Int. Cong. Syst. Evol. Biol., Washington, D.C.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1993. A phylogenetic analysis of the genera of Cyclocephalini (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Memorias, p. 13. Primera Reunión Latinoamericana de Escarabaeiodologia, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1994. The phylogeny of the Cyclocephalini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Programme & Abstracts, p. 51-52. International Symposium on Biodiversity and Systematics in Tropical Ecosystems, Bonn, Germany.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1995. A faunistic survey of the Dynastinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae of Costa Rica and Panama. Program, p. 7. International Caribbean Conference of Entomology, San José, Costa Rica.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1996. A faunistic survey of the Dynastinae of Panama and Costa Rica. Programme, p. 36. Scarabiology Symposium, Kruger National Park, South Africa.
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 2000. A faunistic survey of the Dynastinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of Central America. 21st International Congress of Entomology, Abstracts Book 2: 929.
  • Adis, J., W. Paarmann, and B. C. Ratcliffe. 2000. Dung beetles of Central Amazonian floodplains. 21st International Congress of Entomology, Abstracts Book 1: 100.
  • Benecke, M., L. Barksdale, J. Sundermeier, S. Reibe, and B. C. Ratcliffe. 2000. Forensic entomology in a murder case: blood spatter artifacts caused by flies, and determination of post mortem interval (PMI) by use of blowfly maggots. Zoology, Analysis of Complex Systems 103 (Supplement 3): 106.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. 2004. A faunistic survey of the dynastine scarab beetles of Mesoamerica. VI Reunion de Scarabaeoidologia, Compendio de Resumenes, EARTH University, Costa Rica, p.30.
  • Neita Moreno, J. C., J. Orozco, and B. C. Ratcliffe. 2004. Escarabajos pleurosticti (Scarabaeidae) de la selva baja del bosque pluvial tropical, Choco, Colombia. VI Reunion de Scarabaeoidologia, Compendio de Resumenes, EARTH University, Costa Rica, p. 20.
  • Mudge, A. D., B. C. Ratcliffe, R. L. Westcott, and F. Noguera. 2004. A new species of Neoscelis Schoch from Jalisco, Mexico (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae). VI Reunion de Scarabaeoidologia, Compendio de Resumenes, EARTH University, Costa Rica, p. 19.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and R. D. Cave. 2006. A biotic survey and inventory of the dynastine scarab beetles of Central America, North America, and the Caribbean Region. Resumenes de la VII Reunion Latinoamericana de Scarabaeoidologia, pp. 18-19.


Popular Articles
  • Ratcliffe, Brett C. 1970. Scarabs. Univ. Nebraska News 49(22): 1-4. (Museum Notes No. 42).
  • ______. 1977. Curating your beetle collection. TIEG Mag. 11(1): 14-17.
  • ______. 1980. Take a beetle to lunch today, or the natural history of dung beetles. Univ. Nebraska News 59(18): 1-4. (Museum Notes No. 66).
  • ______. 1983. Reprinted in The Explorer 25: 22-26.
  • ______. 1980. A matter of taste, or the natural history of carrion beetles. Univ. of Nebraska News 59(31): 1-4. (Museum Notes No. 67).
  • ______. 1984. Division of Entomology. Friends Univ. Nebraska St. Mus. 1(3): 3.
  • ______. 1987. Six-legged science. Friends Univ. Nebraska St. Mus. 4(1): 4-5.
  • ______. 1988. Scarab Beetles. Jeweled pollinators, dung feeders, and horned giants. NEBRASKAland Mag. 66: 30-37.
  • ______. 1988. Beetles. Friends Univ. Nebr. St. Museum 5(1): 9.
  • ______. 1989. Entomology: We're good for what bugs you. Mammoth, Oct. 1989, No. 4: 10-11.
  • ______. 1990. Tiger Beetles. NEBRASKAland Mag. 68: 50-51.
  • ______. 1991. Dragonflies. NEBRASKAland Mag. 69: 50-51.
  • ______. 1992. Collecting in Brazilian Amazonia. Mammoth, May 1992, No. 2: 6-7.
  • ______. 1992. Swallowtails. NEBRASKAland Mag. 70: 50-51.
  • ______. 1992. Collecting in Costa Rica. Mammoth. August 1992, No. 3: 6-7.
  • ______. 1993. Nebraska's giant silkmoths. NEBRASKAland Mag. 71: 22-29.
  • ______. 1994. Bumblebees. NEBRASKAland Mag. 72: 58-59.
  • ______. 1995. Burying Beetles. NEBRASKAland Mag. 73: 50-51.
  • ______. 1996. Garden spiders. NEBRASKAland Mag. 74: 50-51.
  • ______. 1997. A faunistic survey of the Dynastinae of Costa Rica and Panama. Simbiosis January-April 1997: 7.
  • Ratcliffe, B. C. and S. Spomer. 2002. Nebraska's endangered species. Part 1: introduction and the insects. Museum Notes 113: 1-6.

 

Awards and Honors:
  • 1980 National Academy of Sciences. Selected for one month scientific exchange with the German Democratic Republic as part of the NAS East European-USSR Scientific Exchange Program.
  • 1981 Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists. Received Outstanding Paper of the Year Award for the 1980 Journal of Paleontology for paper by Ratcliffe and Fagerstrom.
  • 1984 President, Coleopterists' Society.
  • 1993 Coleopterists Society. Received Outstanding Paper of the Year Award for the 1992 Coleopterists Bulletin for paper by Ratcliffe and Deloya.
  • 2001 University of Nebraska, Outstanding Research and Creativity Award (ORCA).
  • 2006 Coleopterists Society. Received Outstanding Paper of the Year Award for the 2005 Coleopterists Bulletin for paper by Ratcliffe and Morón.