Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae: Sarcophaginae) from the Colombian Guajira biogeographic province, an approach to their ecology and distribution

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Sarcophaginae is the most diverse subfamily of Sarcophagidae with 51 genera and more than 1,800 species and it is widely distributed in the Neotropical Region. Sarcophaginae flies of forest, rural, and urban habitats of the seven departments comprising the Colombian Guajira biogeographic province were surveyed. Van Someren Rydon traps baited with fermented fruit, decomposing fish, and human feces were active for 72 hours with samples collected every 12 hours (day/night) between 2010 and 2014. A total of 14,223 sarcophagines (78% females and 22% males) were collected, which belong to 28 species of nine genera. Oxyvinia excisa (Lopes, 1950) is a new record for Colombia. The richest genera were Oxysarcodexia Townsend, 1917 and Peckia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, with eleven and nine species, respectively. Some of the species with the highest affinity to urban habitats were Oxysarcodexia bakeri (Aldrich, 1916), Oxysarcodexia aurata (Macquart, 1851), and Oxysarcodexia timida (Aldrich, 1916); to rural habitats were Oxysarcodexia diana (Lopes, 1933), Ravinia columbiana (Lopes, 1962), and Ravinia effrenata (Walker, 1861); and to forest habitats were Helicobia rapax (Walker, 1849), Oxysarcodexia avuncula (Lopes, 1933), and Oxysarcodexia major Lopes, 1946. We also discuss diet, habitat, and activity periods of the species. Species composition of Sarcophaginae in the Guajira province was very homogenous across the habitats, with the forest as the richest habitat. Scavenger habits of Sarcophaginae are confirmed, as well as their strong association with anthropic environments.

New records of Sarcophagidae (Insecta: Diptera) collected in Cerrado fragments in the municipality of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil

“…Its behavior has indicated necrophagous habits (Dias et al 1984b;valverDe-Castro et al 2017). This species was found in urban, rural and forest areas in Colombia, but was highly associated with the last two areas (valverDe-Castro et al 2017), agreeing with the studies carried out by Dias et al (1984a) in Belo Horizonte.…”

“…Oxysarcodexia diana has already been collected with traps baited with fish, chicken viscera, human and bovine feces, domestic pig and rodent carcasses, and fruits. This species showed mostly coprophagous and scavenger habits (loPes 1973;D'alMeiDa 1983;Dias et al 1984b;D'alMeiDa & liMa 1994;MarChiori et al 2001;barros et al 2008), and was correlated to the rural area in Guajira, Colombia (valverDe-Castro et al 2017). was collected with traps containing powdered milk and agar, fish, rotten banana with brown sugar, human feces, and domestic pig carcass (loPes 1973;loPes 1975;Mello-Patiu et al 2014;valverDe-Castro et al 2017).…”

“…was collected with traps containing powdered milk and agar, fish, rotten banana with brown sugar, human feces, and domestic pig carcass (loPes 1973;loPes 1975;Mello-Patiu et al 2014;valverDe-Castro et al 2017). This species was captured exclusively in a forest area in Colombia, being attracted to fish bait, however that study involved only two specimens (valverDe-Castro et al 2017).…”

“…This species was breed more frequently in fish in a study of Calyptratae trophic niche (D'alMeiDa & D'alMeiDa 1998). Peckia (P.) chrysostoma showed strong preference for inhabited areas in Rio de Janeiro (D'alMeiDa 1983) and slight preference for the urban environment in Colombia (valverDe-Castro et al 2017), however, in Belo Horizonte, it was more frequent in uninhabited areas (Dias et al 1984a). (Dias et al 1984b;barros et al 2008;rosa et al 2011, valverDe-Castro et al 2017.…”

Metamorphosis-related changes in the free fatty acid profiles of Sarcophaga (Liopygia) argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830)

“…It is well know that in the environment, flesh flies feed on nectar, fruit juice, decomposing matter such as excrement, and carrion as sources of protein [108][109][110] . Valverde-Castro and co-workers report the presence of high population densities of Sarcopagiae flies in places with decomposing fish, whose flesh is associated with high fat and protein content; both are needed by female flies for developing eggs, and for the growth and development of first instar larvae 5 . Insects from fly families like the Muscidae, Calliphoridae, Drosophilidae, and Stratiomyidae can develop on media containing human faeces and fruits; however, the authors note that the nutrient levels from that source are insufficient for the larval development of the Sarcophaginae 5 .…”