Studies of carrion fauna have increased in Brazil and have contributed to the knowledge of this fauna in the national territory. Brazil has continental dimensions and presents various biomes in its territorial area. Most of the carrion fauna have seldom been studied, and this is especially true for the Savanna or "Cerrado." The present research examined the fauna visiting carrion in two environments and two seasons in a rural area situated in a region of Cerrado in southeastern Brazil. The two environments studied were a pasture and a fragment of semi-deciduous forest. Samples were collected during the dry and humid seasons of the year. The study identified the diversity and relative abundance of species attracted to pig carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) exposed in each environment and season. Eight pig carcasses (10 ± 1 kg) were placed in traps, and adult insects attracted to the traps were collected during the decay of the carcasses. A total of 92,489 insects were collected during the experiments. The Diptera was the most frequent order (92.2%) represented by 27 families and at least 124 species. This was followed by Coleoptera (4.4%) represented by 14 families and at least 65 species. Sarcophagidae had the greatest diversity of species, followed by Muscidae and Calliphoridae. Several species were collected only during a specific period of the year or in a single environment. The results are important from an ecological point of view and for Medico-Legal Forensic Entomology.

ABSTRACT. Sarchophagid flies (Insecta, Diptera) from pig carcasses in Minas Gerais, Brazil, with nine new records from the Cerrado, a threatened Neotropical biome. The diversity of the Sarcophagidae fauna of the Cerrado biome, also know as the Brazilian Savanna, is still underestimated. In this research we collected flies in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during a Forensic Entomology experiment. Samples were collected throughout the decomposition process of domestic pig (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) carcasses, and the experiments were conducted in areas of pasture and semideciduous forest. A total of 85,694 adult flesh flies belonging to 57 species were collected from all carcasses. New records for nine species of Sarcophaginae are provided, including the first record of Blaesoxipha (Acridiophaga) caridei (Brèthes, 1906) to Brazil, and new occurrences of the following species for the Cerrado and/or for the state of

The main objective of this study was to identify potential forensic indicators in the insect fauna associated with pig carrion and the pattern of insect succession during the decomposition process in two environments of a rural area in Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study was conducted at two locations: in a pasture and in a fragment of a semi-deciduous forest (vegetation profile of the Cerrado biome) in two different seasons (rainy and dry) of 2010. The decomposition process was more rapid in the rainy season. More than 32,000 insects belonging to 17 species of 6 families of Diptera and 2 species of Coleoptera bred in the carcasses. The majority of Diptera bred in the first three stages of decomposition. However, Phoridae and Coleoptera bred mainly in the last two stages. The insects bred more abundantly in the pasture and in the humid season. The exceptions were the Fanniidae (Diptera), which bred more abundantly in the forest and the Dermestidae and Cleridae (Coleoptera), which did not demonstrate any preference in terms of environments and were more abundant in the dry season, respectively. Species such as Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Peckia (Patonella) intermutans (Walker), Necrobia rufipes (De Geer), and Dermestes maculatus (De Geer) may be potential indicators of post-mortem interval. Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) and Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann) may be indicators of localization of the natural environment, while Musca domestica Linnaeus may be an indicator of the anthropic environment. The study thus presented many species of potential forensic indicators in rural areas of this region.

Abstract. Cerrado biome presents high biodiversity, but it still lacks works that focus on entomological inventories. New records for species of Sarcophagidae were provided, including the first record of Blaesoxipha (Acridiophaga) caridei (Brèthes) to Brazil, and new occurrences of the following species for the Cerrado and/or for the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: Blaesoxipha (Acanthodotheca) acridiophagoides (Lopes & Downs), Oxysarcodexia mineirensis Souza & Paseto, Oxysarcodexia occulta Lopes, Nephochaetopteryx orbitalis (Curran & Walley), Ravinia effrenata (Walker) and Sarcophaga (Neobellieria) polistensis (Hall). These flies are necrophagous and lay first instar larvae directly on the substrate for feeding and development. Pig carcasses were used as animal model for monitoring the decaying process and attractiveness to insects. This study aimed to evaluate the diversity and abundance of adult Sarcophagidae collected from eight pig carcasses exposed in two different environments at a rural area, and to identify which species used the carcasses as rearing substrates for the immatures. The experiment was carried out until the end of the carcasses decomposition, and lasted 49 days during the dry and cool season (2012), and 30 days during the wet and warm season (2013). A total of 44,446 adults of Sarcophagidae, belonging to 12 genera, 46 species and two morphotypes were collected, mostly during the decay stage of decomposition. In addition, 389 adults of Sarcophagidae emerged from the immatures collected from the carcasses. The present study demonstrated the high diversity of Sarcophagidae attracted by pig carcasses and the high ecological relevance to develop similar studies in other Cerrado areas.Diversidade de Sarcophagidae (Insecta, Diptera) associada à decomposição de carcaças em uma área rural do Estado de Minas Gerais, BrasilResumo. O bioma Cerrado apresenta grande biodiversidade, mas trabalhos sobre levantamento entomológico ainda são escassos. Novos registros de espécies de Sarcophagidae foram relatados, incluindo o registro inédito de Blaesoxipha (Acridiophaga) caridei (Brèthes) para o Brasil e novas ocorrências das seguintes espécies para o Cerrado e/ou para o estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil: Blaesoxipha (Acanthodotheca) acridiophagoides (Lopes & Downs), Oxysarcodexia mineirensis Souza & Paseto, Oxysarcodexia occulta Lopes, Nephochaetopteryx orbitalis (Curran & Walley), Ravinia effrenata (Walker) e Sarcophaga (Neobellieria) polistensis (Hall). Essas moscas são necrófagas e depositam suas larvas de primeiro instar diretamente sobre o substrato para alimentação e desenvolvimento. Carcaças suínas foram utilizadas como modelo animal para monitorar o processo de decomposição e atratividade de insetos. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a diversidade e abundância de sarcofagídeos adultos coletados em oito carcaças suínas expostas em dois diferentes ambientes de uma área rural, e identificar qual espécie utilizou a carcaça como substrato para criação dos imaturos. O experimento foi encerrado quando as carcaças atingiram o último estágio de decomposição, totalizando 49 dias durante a estação fria e seca (2012) e 30 dias durante a estação quente e úmida (2013). Um total de 44.446 sarcofagídeos adultos, pertencentes a 12 gêneros, 46 espécies e dois morfotipos, foi coletado, principalmente durante o estágio seco do processo de decomposição. Além disso, 389 sarcofagídeos adultos emergiram dos imaturos coletados nas carcaças. O presente estudo demonstrou a grande diversidade de Sarcophagidae atraídos por carcaças suínas e a relevância ecológica de desenvolver estudos similares em outras áreas do Cerrado.

Abstract. A new species of Oxysarcodexia Townsend, 1917 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) from Brazil is described based on male specimens. This is a mainly Neotropical genus of flesh flies, with few species also present in Nearctic, Australasian and Oceanian Regions. Its species have been associated with decomposing organic matter (feces of mammals or birds – dung-breeders species) and have potential forensic importance when associated with carcasses (attracted fauna and, in some cases, true carrion-breeding species). Digital photographs of the habitus in lateral view and of the terminalia in lateral, posterior and ventral views are provided. Oxysarcodexia mineirensis sp. n. is close-related to “Xarcophaga species-group” (i.e. with a postero-distal phallic enlargement) and is similar to Oxysarcodexia favorabilis (Lopes, 1935) due to the conformation of the terminalia, especially the phallus flower-like shaped.Descrição de Uma Nova Espécie Neotropical de Oxysarcodexia Townsend, 1917 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)Resumo. Uma nova espécie de Oxysarcodexia Townsend, 1917 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) é descrita com base em espécimes machos. As espécies deste gênero de sarcofagídeos apresentam distribuição majoritariamente Neotropical, com algumas espécies ocorrendo também nas regiões Neártica, Australásia e Oceânica. As espécies deste gênero podem ser encontradas associadas à matéria orgânica em decomposição (fezes de mamíferos ou aves – espécies coprófilas) e podem apresentar importância forense quando associadas a carcaças (fauna atraída e, em alguns casos, espécies que se criam). Fotografias digitais do hábito em vista lateral e da terminália em vistas lateral, posterior e ventral são apresentadas. Oxysarcodexia mineirensis sp. n. pertence ao “grupo Xarcophaga” (i.e. possui o falo alargado postero-distalmente) e contém similaridades com Oxysarcodexia favorabilis (Lopes, 1935) devido à conformação da terminália, especialmente o formato do falo, semelhante a uma flor.