Necrophagous fly assembly: Evaluation of species bait preference in field experiments

Abstract

The assembly of species that colonize animal organic matter, their relative abundance and dynamics are affected by the environmental and biogeographic conditions to which these resources are exposed. Baited trap studies are essential for research on the diversity, seasonality, distribution and population dynamics of necrophagous flies. Decomposing baits provide the necessary stimulus for flies to aggregate on them. In this study three types of bait of animal origin with different organic chemical composition were compared in terms of the diversity, richness, abundance and species composition of saprophagous flies species that were attracted to them. Bone-meal (BM), cow liver (CL) and rotten chicken viscera (CV) were used as bait to collect flies. A total of 3387 Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae and Muscidae adult flies were collected. Regarding bait preference, CV was the most attractive in terms of abundance of flies of the three most relevant families to medical and legal entomology compared to CL and BM.