Necrophagous Entomofauna (Diptera, Coleoptera) on Meles Meles (L.) (Mammalia: Mustelidae) Carcasses within Different Conditions of Exposure in Bucharest (Romania)

Abstract

Abstract The study of necrophagous insect fauna brings information by providing numerous data, revealed after experimental studies for the benefit of knowledge development of necrophagous insect associations (biology, ecology, ethology), as well as their use in the forensic field. In this respect, the article presents an experiment in which specimens of Meles meles (L.) were used along a period of 8 months (March - October 2011). Three exposure methods were used: in open air, covered by plastic and buried in the ground. The objective was to record the presence time of the necrophagous insect wave, according to the factors which influenced the local entomological fauna along the experiment, as well as the altering process of the carcasses. Dipteran species belonging to the families Calliphoridae and Muscidae were identified subsequently, as well as numerous coleopteran species. Most of the observed and caught specimens belong to the order Diptera, which reached a number of 271 specimens representing adults, immature stages. As regards order Coleoptera, only 53 specimens were captured. It was observed that Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Calliphoridae) species was present along the entire experiment, representing one of the prevalent insects of the colonizing necrophagous insect wave.