First Record of Six Calliphoridae (Diptera) Species in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest in Brazil: Evidence for the Establishment of Invasive Species

Abstract

As part of a survey on necrophagous Diptera species in a fragment of seasonally dry tropical forest in Brazil, six species of Calliphoridae are reported here for the first time in the caatinga, a biome exclusive to Brazil. Three species native to the Neotropical region (Cochliomyia macellaria, Chloroprocta idioidea, Lucilia eximia) and 3 exotic species (Chrysomya albiceps, C. putoria and C. megacephala) are reported to occur simultaneously associated with pig carcasses in the semiarid region of Brazil. The invasive potential of Chrysomya species is likely to produce deleterious effects on native blow fly populations in the near future.