The species richness, abundance and seasonality of Coleoptera fauna associated with pig carcasses exposed in a Caatinga area were examined. Tray, pitfall and modified Shannon traps were settled together to collect these insects during two seasons (dry and rainy). 4,851 beetles were collected, belonging to 19 families and 88 species. Staphylinidae (2,184) and Histeridae (1,264) were the most abundant families and accounted for 71.1% of the specimens collected. Scarabaeidae (15)

Studies that focused on Calliphoridae associated with pig carcasses are abundant in southern and southeastern Brazil; however, there are few in northeast. Here, we present an inventory of the blowfly species associated with the stages of decomposition of pig carcasses in a caatinga area during dry and rainy seasons. The study took place at the Private Reserve for the Environmental Inheritance "Fazenda Almas," state of Paraíba, Brazil. Using a modified version of the Shannon trap, 32,909 adult specimens belonging to eight species were captured. During the dry season, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) (52.2%) and Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (39.9%) were the most abundant species. In the rainy season, when the majority of individuals were captured (93.7%), Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau-Desvoidy) (71.1%) was the most abundant. Five decomposition stages were recognized, being the active decay the most attractive to colonization by blowflies, except for Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann), which was more abundant in the bloated stage.

ABSTRACT. Diversity and trophic niche overlap of membracids (Hemiptera, Membracidae) in a semi-arid area. We examined 1,069 individuals of 13 species of membracids collected on their host

Bees are known for foraging majorly on floral resources as pollen, nectar and oil (Roubik, 1989; Wcislo & Cane, 1996), acting as pollinators of angiosperms. However, many bee species forage on other nutritional sources, as hemipteran's honeydews (Camargo & Pedro, 2002), and on materials to be used in their nest building. Mud, feces, plant parts, exudates and animal carcasses can be incorporated by bees to the material used in the construction and sealing of the nest (Wille, 1983; Baumgartner & Roubik, 1989; Noll et al., 1996). Amongst the bees, the Neotropical perennial social bees (Meliponini) have been the most recorded on animal

Abstract. The ecological roles of Coleoptera fauna associated with pig carcasses exposed in a Caatinga area were examined. Tray, pitfall and modified Shannon traps were settled together to collect these insects during two seasons (dry and rainy). 4,851 beetles were collected, belonging to 19 families and 88 species. The most abundant ecological category was predator/parasite (72.7%), followed by omnivorous (15.1%), necrophagous (10.9%) and incidental (1.3%). Future researches on the biology of predator/parasite species are required to understand their possible forensic utility for postmortem interval estimate.Keywords: Beetles; Forensic Entomology; Postmortem Interval. Papel Ecológico de Coleoptera Associados a Carcaças em Área de CaatingaResumo. O papel ecológico da coleopterofauna associada a carcaças de porcos em uma área de Caatinga foi examinado. Para captura desses insetos foram utilizadas armadilhas do tipo bandeja, pitfall e Shannon modificada, durante duas estações (seca e chuvosa). 4.851 coleópteros foram coletados, pertencentes a 19 famílias e 88 espécies. A categoria ecológica mais abundante foi predador/parasita (72,7%), seguida por onívoro (15,1%), necrófago (10,9%) e incidental (1,3%). Futuros estudos sobre biologia das espécies predadoras/parasitas são necessários para se determinar sua possível utilidade forense na estimativa do intervalo pós-morte.Palavras-Chave: Besouros; Entomologia Forense; Intervalo Pós-Morte.