Seasonal composition and temporal succession of necrophagous and predator beetles on pig carrion in Central Argentina.

BATTÁN HORENSTEIN, M. & A.X. LINHARES

MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY

Blackwell

Año: 2011 p. 395 - 401

0269-283X

Insects are the most important components of the terrestrial faunaassociated with carrion because they recycle organic matter back into the ecosystem.They can be classified into four ecological categories comprising: necrophages;parasites and predators of necrophagous species; omnivores, and incidentals. Todetermine the composition and temporal succession of necrophagous and predatorbeetles on pig carrion, four experiments, one in each season, were carried outduring 2004 in a rural area of Cordoba, central Argentina. Two pigs (Sus scrofaL.), weighing approximately 8 kg each, were used in each of the four experiments.The animals were killed by a sharp blow to the head and immediately placed in anappropriate trap. One pig was placed in the shade and the other in direct sunlight.Beetle fauna were collected daily during the first 4 weeks and thereafter every 2 or3 days. Five stages of decomposition were observed and a total of 1586 adults and4309 immatures of Coleoptera belonging to the Staphylinidae, Nitidulidae, Cleridae,Dermestidae, Histeridae, Anthicidae and Trogidae families were collected duringthe four experiments. The necrophagous community was represented by Dermestesmaculates (De Geer), nitidulid species and members of the Trox genus. Staphylinidae,Cleridae and Histeridae species were considered to be the main predators of thenecrophagous species.