Flesh flies species (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) from a grassland and a woodland in a Nature Reserve of Buenos Aires, Argentina

MULIERI, P. R.; SCHNACK, J. A.; MARILUIS, J. C.; TORRETTA, J. P.

REVISTA DE BIOLOGíA TROPICAL

Universidad de Costa Rica

Lugar: San José, Costa Rica; Año: 2008 vol. 56 p. 1287 - 1294

0034-7744

Abstract: temporal changes of flesh flies abundance were simultaneously recorded at monthly intervals during a year in a woodland and in a grassland at the “Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur” (RECS), Buenos Aires city, Argentina. Samples were taken at monthly intervals (February 2004-January 2005). Hourly captures of adult flies (10:00 am – 04:00 pm) were taken each sampling date with a hand net. The baits used were 200 g of rotten cow liver and 200 g of fresh dog faeces. The entire sample accumulated 1305 specimens belonging to 18 sarcophagid species. The flies were more abundant in the grassland than in the woodland. Microcerella muehni, Oxysarcodexia paulistanensis, O. varia and Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) occidua exhibited the higher relative abundance, representing the remaining species less than 8 % of the entire sample. Most of the recorded species showed preference for faeces as bait. The overall number of flesh flies per sample was positively correlated with mean temperature; this trait was specially noticeable considering the relative abundance of the dominant species, T. (S.) occidua and O. paulistanensis. Concerning the remaining dominant species, M. muehni showed a negative correlation with temperature, while O. varia did not show a clear pattern. Therefore, all dominant species except M. muehni prevailed during late spring-summer. Woodland and grassland sites showed similar species richness and evenness profiles.