Occurrence of Hymenoptera on pig carcasses in a tropical rainforest in Central Amazonia, Brazil

Hymenotpera species may act as necrophagous, consuming decomposing tissues, as predators, when they feed on other immature and adult insects, and parasites of larvae and pupae of dipterans and coleopterans that colonize the carcasses. In this way, the fauna of four Hymenoptera families (Vespidae, Ap...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSociobiology (Chico, CA) Vol. 66; no. 2; p. 389
Main Authors Somavilla, Alexandre, Souza, Jorge Luiz de Pereira, Da Silva, Aldenira Oliveira, Keppler, Ruth Leila Ferreira
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana 20.08.2019
Subjects
Apidae
forensic entomology
Formicidae
necrophagy
Vespidae
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Summary:Hymenotpera species may act as necrophagous, consuming decomposing tissues, as predators, when they feed on other immature and adult insects, and parasites of larvae and pupae of dipterans and coleopterans that colonize the carcasses. In this way, the fauna of four Hymenoptera families (Vespidae, Apidae, Icheneumonidae and Formicidae) associated to different decomposition stages of Sus scrofa carcass partially submerged in igarapé of the “terra-firme” Amazonian forest are presented. Formicidae were the most abundant insects with 957 individuals collected all directly in the carcass, followed by Vespidae (143), Apidae (88) and Ichneumonidae with nine individuals collected in the suspended trap. Due to the aspect of the injuries caused by some Hymenoptera to the carcass, they may be mistaken as skin ulcers, burns or abrasions, which may mislead a forensic investigation.
ISSN:0361-6525
2447-8067
DOI:10.13102/sociobiology.v66i2.4311