Abstract
The association of stingless bees with pig carcasses exposed in a Brazilian Dry Forest area were examined. Modified Shannon traps were settled together to collect these insects during two seasons (dry and rainy). 564 bees were collected, belonging to three tribes and nine species. The majority of bees (75.5%) was collected during the dry season, and Partamona seridoensis Pedro & Camargo (32.8%) and Trigonisca sp. (20.9%) were the most abundant species. Five decomposition stages were recognized, being the bloated, active and advanced decay the most attractive to the bees. Considerations about seasonal foraging and use of bees in the forensic entomology scope are presented.
Highlights
Bees are known for foraging majorly on floral resources as pollen, nectar and oil (Roubik, 1989; Wcislo & Cane, 1996), acting as pollinators of angiosperms
The Neotropical perennial social bees (Meliponini) have been the most recorded on animal carcass or flesh bait (Wille, 1962; Baumgartner & Roubik, 1989; Silveira et al, 2005)
Throughout the animal decomposition, a succession usually occurs as insect species exhibit associations to the decomposition stages providing better supply for their offspring (Smith, 1986). This process can be useful in determining the postmortem interval (PMI) in a forensic approach (Goff & Flynn, 1991)
Summary
Corresponding author Wellington Emanuel dos Santos Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, UFPB, 58059-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
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