Seasonal abundance in necrophagous Diptera and Coleoptera from northern Venezuela
- Author:
Jose Nuñez Rodríguez
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2017;34(2):315-323
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A carcass represents an ecosystem for necrophagous insects and other arthropods
communities, and the decomposition stages are related to an ecological succession. Several
factors are associated with the insects colonization and subsequently, accelerate or retard
the decomposition. Some studies confirm the seasonal differences in blowflies and other
medicolegal important insects. From 2015 and 2016 during four months was studied the
entomofauna associated to a beef biomodel. Insects species abundance from monthly catches
was used for richness determination, and the community structure was estimated using
diversity and evenness indexes. The monthly precipitation data was used for describing the
association between environmental and insects abundance. Were collected 1046 specimens
comprises the Order Diptera (97%) and including Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Piophilidae,
Sarcophagidae and Otitidae; in Coleoptera (3%): Dermestidae, Cleridae and Staphylinidae.
Were found twelve species: Chrysomya megacephala, C. albiceps, Lucilia cuprina, Cochliomya
macellaria, Musca domestica, Ophyra aenescens, O. chalcogaster, Atherigona orientalis,
Piophila casei, Dermestes maculatus, Necrobia rufipes and Belonuchus rufipennis. The
highest insects abundance and richness were registered in May, February and November,
while the lowest values were found in August. The Calliphoridae and Muscidae abundance
and richness increase between November and May that correspond to ending of rainy season
and beginning of the dry season, while the values decrease in August that correspond to the
rainy season. Our study represents the first investigation to determine the seasonal variation
of medicolegal important insects in Venezuela. However are necessary more studies that
consider different habitat type (forests, savannas, etc) to determine the insects occurrence
among different decomposition stages.
- Full text:P020170616379439245551.pdf
