ABSTRACT
Flies belonging to the Sarcophagidae family play a significant role in forensic investigations by aiding in the estimation of post-mortem interval through the assessment of the developmental time of their immature stages and/or the succession patterns of species on carcasses and cadavers. In this regard, this study aimed to investigate the ecological succession of these flies on pig carcasses within Cerrado of Brazil. The progression of fly succession was examined over a 10-day period using the Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) approach. Six Z + species (Oxysarcodexia thornax (Walker), Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens (Wiedemann), Peckia (Euboettcheria) collusor (Curran & Walley), Ravinia belforti (Prado & Fonseca), Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) canuta (Wulp) and Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) occidua (Fabricius)) were identified, with change points ranging from 2.5 to 3 days during the dry season and 2.5 to 5.5 days during the rainy season. Two Z- species (Dexosarcophaga carvalhoi (Lopes) and Peckia (Sarcodexia) tridentata (Hall)) were present, with a change point of 6.5 days during the rainy season. This study provides a continuous analysis of the temporal succession of flies, enabling an investigation into species progression based on their change points and directions (Z + and Z- ), thereby offering methodological advancements to avoid the arbitrary categorization of inherently continuous data.
Subject(s)
Diptera , Hydrozoa , Sarcophagidae , Animals , Swine , Brazil , AutopsyABSTRACT
This study presents some updates on the Brazilian hangingflies species of the genera Issikiella Byers, Nannobittacus Esben-Petersen, and Pazius Navás (Insecta: Mecoptera: Bittacidae). All species with records from Brazil were included in the study, resulting in some new state records and a new synonym (Pazius cinctipes Byers and Florez under P. ornaticaudus Penny). Biological notes on P. ornaticaudus and distribution maps for all species were also provided.
Subject(s)
Holometabola , Animals , Brazil , InsectaABSTRACT
A new species of Nephochaetopteryx Townsend, Nephochaetopteryx aryi sp. nov., is described based on three male specimens from the Brazilian Amazon. They were collected with traps baited with rotting crustaceans (shrimp and crab) in a mangrove forest on the Atlantic coast, in the state of Par.
Subject(s)
Diptera , Sarcophagidae , Animals , Brazil , Male , WetlandsABSTRACT
There are 130 described species in the genus Mycodrosophila Oldenberg, 1914, distributed across all biogeographic regions. Most of these species show essential mycophagy. Currently, ten species are known from the Neotropical Region, nine of which are found in the Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Pampa biomes of Brazil. In this study, we describe the adult external morphology and structures of male and/or female terminalia for two new species from the Amazon Biome of Brazil. In addition, we propose a new species group, the Mycodrosophila neoprojectans group, encompassing the two new species described here, together with three previously described species from the Neotropics.
Subject(s)
Diptera , Drosophilidae , Animals , Ecosystem , Female , Forests , MaleABSTRACT
The present study investigated the potential association between the richness and abundance of species of the dipteran families Calliphoridae, Mesembrinellidae, and Sarcophagidae in anthropogenic and preserved environments of five phytophysiognomies (Cerrado, Amazon forest, Palm forest, marshland, and mangrove) that occur throughout the state of Maranhão, in northeastern Brazil. We sampled 90 sites (45 preserved and 45 anthropogenic areas) where we collected 26,036 specimens: 15,023 calliphorids (11 species), 231 mesembrinellids (one species), and 10,772 sarcophagids (52 species). Four environmental factors, canopy openness, temperature, leaf litter depth, and vegetation height, contributed most to the separation of preserved and anthropogenic sites in all five phytophysiognomies. Leaf litter depth was positively associated with the species richness of the calliphorids and mesembrinellids (C+ M group), while tree/shrub density, vegetation height, and temperature were associated negatively with the richness of the sarcophagids. Tree/shrub density and vegetation height were also associated negatively with abundance in both C+M and sarcophagid species. Overall, then, the structural characteristics of the environment affected the species richness and abundance, and deforestation may favor certain synanthropic species, leading to a decrease in the richness and abundance of the species that are adapted to preserved environments.
Subject(s)
Calliphoridae , Sarcophagidae , Animals , Biodiversity , Brazil , Calliphoridae/classification , Forests , Sarcophagidae/classification , WetlandsABSTRACT
A new species of Rhinoleucophenga Hendel from the Brazilian Amazon, R. hesperides sp. nov., was described based on morphology of male and female specimens. The larvae are predators of the eggs and adult females of ensign scales Praelongorthezia praelonga (Douglas) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Ortheziidae). Female P. praelonga also serve as a source of honeydew for adult R. hesperides sp. nov. In addition, the puparium of this species was described.
