Diversity of forensically-important dipteran species in different environments in northeastern Brazil, with notes on the attractiveness of animal baits
Keywords:
forensic entomology, Calliphoridae, blow flies, Sarcophagidae, ChrysomyaAbstract
The distribution and habitat preferences of necrophagous Diptera in northeastern Brazil is poorly known despite the medical and forensic relevance of species in the Families Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, and Muscidae. We performed a survey on the diversity of necrophagous species in 4 types of environments: rainforest, agroecosystem, beach, and urban areas. Adult flies were collected by using suspended traps containing decomposing animal tissue (chicken liver, sardine, or pork) as baits. A diverse assemblage of necrophagous Diptera was registered in all environments, consisting of 20 species from 7 families: Calliphoridae, Fanniidae, Muscidae, Phoridae, Piophilidae, Sarcophagidae, and Ulidiidae. Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Phoridae), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Calliphoridae), and Tricharaea sp. (Muscidae) were the most abundant species. The rainforest fragment and the sugarcane plantation were the environments with the highest degree of species similarity. The type of bait did not significantly influence the number of species captured. The invasive species Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) and C. albiceps were present in high abundance in all environments, especially at the sandy beach, where they corresponded to 100% of all Calliphoridae specimens.
Resumen
La distribución y la preferencia por hábitat de moscas necrófagas en el Noreste de Brasil son poco conocidas a pesar de la importancia médica y forense de muchas especies, particularmente de las familias Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae and Muscidae. Un levantamiento de corta duración de especies necrófagas fue conducido en 4 tipos de ambiente: bosque atlántico, agroecosistema, playa y área urbana. Moscas adultas fueran colectadas con trampas conteniendo tejido animal (hígado de pollo, sardina o cerdo) como atractivos. Una comunidad diversa de Diptera necrófagos fue registrada en todos los ambientes, consistiendo de 20 especies de 7 familias Calliphoridae, Fanniidae, Muscidae, Phoridae, Piophilidae, Sarcophagidae y Ulidiidae. Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Phoridae), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) Calliphoridae) y Tricharaea sp. (Muscidae) fueran las especies más abundantes. El bosque atlántico y la plantación de cana-de-azúcar compartieron lo más alto grado de similaridad. El tipo de atractivo no influenció significativamente en el número de especies capturadas. Las especies invasoras Chrysomya megacephala y C. albiceps fueran registradas en alta abundancia en todos los ambientes, especialmente en la playa, donde correspondió a 100% de todos los Calliphoridae, lo que despierta preocupaciones acerca de la resiliencia de las asambleas nativas.
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