Sarcophagidae and Other Diptera Taken by Trap and Net on Georgia Mountain Summits in 1952

Sex-Biased Captures of Sarcosaprophagous Diptera in Carrion-Baited Traps

“…Males from these families appear to show a perching behavior, so they are usually not observed on carcasses or odor sources, but downwind from them, where they intercept and attempt to mate with flies passing by (Cook 1994). In accordance with this behavior, it has been observed that males can be collected by net more frequently around carrion (Dodge and Seago 1954; Martínez-Sánchez et al 2000). Moreover, Dodge and Seago (1954) collected by net several male and female couples in copula around carrion-baited traps, and collected by trap high numbers of single females from Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae.…”

“…However, Aspoas (1994) captured more males than females using traps baited with fish carcasses, although he later obtained a sex ratio of 1:1 from the laboratory cultures. Dodge and Seago (1954) obtained a female-biased sex ratio in their carrion-baited trap captures of Sarcophagidae, although for some species the captures were male-biased, including some species of genus Ravinia Robineu-Desvoidy. One species, R. pernix (Harris), from this genus was collected in the present study, but in a density lower than 50 individuals; therefore, this species was not included in the analysis (see Material and Methods).…”

The Natural History and Unusual Mating Behavior ofEuxesta bilimeki(Diptera: Ulidiidae)

“…In accordance with this behavior, it has been observed that males can be collected by net more frequently around carrion (Dodge and Seago 1954;Martínez-Sánchez et al 2000). Moreover, Dodge and Seago (1954) collected by net several male and female couples in copula around carrion-baited traps, and collected by trap high numbers of single females from Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae. This explanation according to the perching mating behaviour fits with the sex ratio observed in the present study for these three families (Figure 2).…”

“…Males from these families appear to show a perching behavior, so they are usually not observed on carcasses or odor sources, but downwind from them, where they intercept and attempt to mate with flies passing by (Cook 1994). In accordance with this behavior, it has been observed that males can be collected by net more frequently around carrion (Dodge and Seago 1954;Martínez-Sánchez et al 2000). Moreover, Dodge and Seago (1954) collected by net several male and female couples in copula around carrion-baited traps, and collected by trap high numbers of single females from Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae.…”

“…However, Aspoas (1994) captured more males than females using traps baited with fish carcasses, although he later obtained a sex ratio of 1:1 from the laboratory cultures. Dodge and Seago (1954) obtained a femalebiased sex ratio in their carrion-baited trap captures of Sarcophagidae, although for some species the captures were male-biased, including some species of genus Ravinia Robineu-Desvoidy. One species, R. pernix (Harris), from this genus was collected in the present study, but in a density lower than 50 individuals; therefore, this species was not included in the analysis (see Material and Methods).…”