Califorídeos (Diptera: Calliphoridae) associados aos estágios de decomposição de uma carcaça de Conepatus semistriatus (Carnivora: Mephitidae)

Abstract

The flies associated with the carcass of animal models, has been the subject of many studies in recent years. However, this association in vertebrate models of Brazilian fauna is poorly understood. Here, for the first time in Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais (Brazil), we investigate the process of decomposition of a carcass of Conepatus semistriatus (Boddaert, 1785) (Carnivora: Mephitidae) found lifeless, to identify the species of califorids (Diptera: Calliphoridae) acting in the ecological succession. The carcass was exposed in a modified polyethylene trap to collect a greater abundance of blowflies, both adult and immature forms. Five stages of decomposition were identified, and 2164 specimens belonging to eight species of califorid were sampled. Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) was the most abundant species among adults and Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius, 1805) among immatures. The species collected were also verified in other studies by Brazil reinforcing the performance of these flies in the cadaveric decomposition processes. The ecological succession process in this study showed species of forensic importance, their activities in each phase of decomposition of the carcass as well as those that can be used as forensic indicators. Our findings contribute with relevant information from these associations in wild animal carcasses.