Abstract

SANCHEZ-ROJAS, Gerardo; CASTELLANOS, Ignacio  and  MARQUEZ-VAZQUEZ, Amelia. Sampling necrophagous and predatory insects using different lures in a Mexican pine forest. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2011, vol.82, n.3, pp.1037-1040. ISSN 2007-8706.

Sampling with a single bait as a lure is a commonly used practice in studies of necrophilous insect communities. Here, we determined if there were differences in necrophilous insect species richness and abundance when attracted to 4 types of carrion: squid, bird, lizard, and mouse. A comparison between necrophagous and predatory insects was also made to detect whether they differ in their abundance, depending on the bait used. Thirteen species of Silphidae, Staphylinidae (Coleoptera), Calliphoridae, and Sarcophagidae (Diptera) were collected in the baited traps; no single bait was able to attract all species. The abundances of 5 species varied significantly depending on the type of bait used. Predatory insects were less abundant than necrophagous insects in lizard and mouse baits. These results show that an evaluation of the structure of a necrophilous insect community can depend on the bait used for sampling.

Keywords : Necrophilous insects; guilds; species accumulation curves; carrion; Mexico.

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