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29 July 2016 Action of Ants on Vertebrate Carcasses and Blow Flies (Calliphoridae)
Michele C. Paula, Gustavo M. Morishita, Carolina H. Cavarson, Cristiano R. Gonçalves, Paulo R. A. Tavares, Angélica Mendonça, Yzel R. Súarez, William F. Antonialli-Junior
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Abstract

Forensic entomology is a science that uses insect fauna as a tool to assist in criminal investigations and civil proceedings. Although the most researched insects are the Diptera and Coleoptera, ants may be present in all stages of decomposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ants and their action on blow flies during the decomposition process. Experiments were performed in which four pig carcasses were exposed in the cold and dry season (November/2012 and March/2013) and four in the hot and wet season (May/2013 and August/2013). Flies were the first insects to detect and interact with the carcasses, and six species of the Calliphoridae family were identified. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were the second group, with six subfamilies identified. Myrmycinae represented 42% of the species, followed by Formicinae (28%), Ectatominae and Ponerinae (both 10%), and Ecitoninae and Dolichoderinae (both 5%). The ants acted on the carcasses as predators of visiting species, omnivores, and necrophagous, in all cases significantly affecting the decomposition time, slowing it down when the ants preyed on adult and immature insects consuming the carcass, or accelerating it by consuming the carcass and creating holes that could serve as gateways for the action of other organisms. The ants also generated artifacts that could lead to forensic misinterpretation.

© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com
Michele C. Paula, Gustavo M. Morishita, Carolina H. Cavarson, Cristiano R. Gonçalves, Paulo R. A. Tavares, Angélica Mendonça, Yzel R. Súarez, and William F. Antonialli-Junior "Action of Ants on Vertebrate Carcasses and Blow Flies (Calliphoridae)," Journal of Medical Entomology 53(6), 1283-1291, (29 July 2016). https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjw119
Received: 26 January 2016; Accepted: 1 July 2016; Published: 29 July 2016
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KEYWORDS
Diptera
forensic entomology
Formicidae
postmortem interval
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