Actions of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on a big-eared opossum carcass
Abstract
We described the effects of fire ants (Solenopsis saevissima) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on and in a big-eared opossum (Mammalia: Marsupialia: Dedelphidae) carcass. The observations were made in southeastern Brazil beside of a public highway. We documented the competitive ability of the fire ants, which sought to reduce competition with necrophagous flies by constructing a soil structure over the natural orifices of the carcass. After we removed the structure, the ants changed their physical and ecological behavior on the carcass until the end of decomposition. This ant behavior of blocking access to the carcass delays the decomposition process due to the fact that other necrophagous insects cannot forage there.
Sumario
Este estudio describe la presencia y la actuación de las hormigas de fuego (Solenopsis saevissima) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en un cadáver de zarigüeya orejona (Mammalia: Marsupialia: Dedelphidae). Las observaciones ocurrieron en el sudeste de Brasil en una vía pública del perímetro urbano. Este estudio registró la capacidad de optimización de las hormigas de fuego, que buscaba reducir la competencia con las moscas necrófagas mediante la construcción de una estructura sobre los orificios naturales de la carcasa. Más tarde, después de la eliminación de esta estructura, las hormigas cambiaron su posición física y ecológica en el cadáver, pero permanecieron activas hasta el final de la descomposición. Este comportamiento de la hormiga de bloquear el acceso a la carcasa, retrasa el proceso de descomposición, debido a que otros necrófagos no pueden alimentarse allí.
Key Words: decomposition, necrophagous, forensic entomology
View this article in BioOne https://doi.org/10.1653/024.102.0224
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