Sarcosaprophagous Diptera assemblages in natural habitats in central Spain: spatial and seasonal changes in composition

Abstract

The composition and spatial distribution of sarcosaprophagous Diptera assemblages were studied using carrion‐baited traps along a bioclimatic gradient of natural habitats in central Spain throughout the different seasons during 1 year. Calliphoridae and Muscidae were the most abundant families, accounting for, respectively, 41.9% and 35.1% of all Diptera specimens collected. Other abundant families were Heleomyzidae (8.4%), Sarcophagidae (6.9%) and Piophilidae (5.1%). Fly assemblage compositions differed among bioclimatic levels, with Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) being the dominant species in mesomediterranean habitats, Muscina levida (Harris) (Diptera: Muscidae) the dominant species in supramediterranean habitats, and Prochyliza nigrimana (Meigen) (Diptera: Piophilidae) the dominant species in oromediterranean habitats. Differences in assemblage composition were also found among seasons. Thermophobic species such as Calliphora vicina Robineau‐Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and some species of Heleomyzidae were well represented during autumn, winter and spring in the three bioclimatic levels sampled. By contrast, thermophilic species such as Ch. albiceps and Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and most Muscidae and Sarcophagidae species were more abundant during summer and in mesomediterranean habitats located at lower elevations. Knowledge of the preferences of some species for certain habitats may be of ecological and forensic value and may establish a starting point for further research.

The colonisation of remains by the muscid flies Muscina stabulans (Fallén) and Muscina prolapsa (Harris) (Diptera: Muscidae)

“…The death of the larvae was therefore not a consequence of starvation or desiccation. [17]. A similar distribution pattern has been described in Lisbon in Portugal although somewhat fewer M. stabulans were recorded in summer than in the spring and autumn [18].…”

The immature stages of the necrophagous fly Liopiophila varipes and considerations on the genus Liopiophila (Diptera: Piophilidae)

“…Anton et al 2011;Martín-Vega and Baz 2013). Despite L. varipes appears to be of smaller economic and hygienic importance than other piophilid species, it may be common on food industry premises (Zuska and Laštovka 1965).…”

An update of the blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of the Galápagos Islands, and first record of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) from mainland Ecuador

“…It should be borne in mind that small isolated islands are characterized by a lower species richness of carrion flies due to fierce interspecific competition (Hanski 1977). In contrast, a higher species richness can be found on large islands and the mainland, where competition among different fly species may be alleviated mainly by differences in habitats (Lane 1975;Martin-Vega & Baz 2013) and seasonality (Tantawi et al 1996;Martin-Vega & Baz 2013), thus facilitating coexistence.…”