title: Action of Ants on Vertebrate Carcasses and Blow Flies (Calliphoridae).
abstract: Forensic entomology is a science that uses insect fauna as a tool to assist in criminal investigations and civil proceedings. Although the most researched insects are the Diptera and Coleoptera, ants may be present in all stages of decomposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ants and their action on blow flies during the decomposition process. Experiments were performed in which four pig carcasses were exposed in the cold and dry season (November/2012 and March/2013) and four in the hot and wet season (May/2013 and August/2013). Flies were the first insects to detect and interact with the carcasses, and six species of the Calliphoridae family were identified. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were the second group, with six subfamilies identified. Myrmycinae represented 42% of the species, followed by Formicinae (28%), Ectatominae and Ponerinae (both 10%), and Ecitoninae and Dolichoderinae (both 5%). The ants acted on the carcasses as predators of visiting species, omnivores, and necrophagous, in all cases significantly affecting the decomposition time, slowing it down when the ants preyed on adult and immature insects consuming the carcass, or accelerating it by consuming the carcass and creating holes that could serve as gateways for the action of other organisms. The ants also generated artifacts that could lead to forensic misinterpretation.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Entomologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil (michelecastro.ufgd@gmail.com; paulo_robertoivi@hotmail.com; angel_bio1@yahoo.com.br; williamantonialli@yahoo.com.br) michelecastro.ufgd@gmail.com.|Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Rodovia Dourados/Itahum, km 12, Caixa Postal 351, 79804-970, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michele C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.affiliation: Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil (gmitsuim@hotmail.com).
authors.forename: Gustavo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil (carolcavarson1@gmail.com; cristiano_evans@hotmail.com).
authors.forename: Carolina H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cavarson
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil (carolcavarson1@gmail.com; cristiano_evans@hotmail.com).
authors.forename: Cristiano R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Entomologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil (michelecastro.ufgd@gmail.com; paulo_robertoivi@hotmail.com; angel_bio1@yahoo.com.br; williamantonialli@yahoo.com.br).|Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil (carolcavarson1@gmail.com; cristiano_evans@hotmail.com).
authors.forename: Paulo R A
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Entomologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil (michelecastro.ufgd@gmail.com; paulo_robertoivi@hotmail.com; angel_bio1@yahoo.com.br; williamantonialli@yahoo.com.br).|Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Rodovia Dourados/Itahum, km 12, Caixa Postal 351, 79804-970, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brazil (yzelrondonsuarez@gmail.com).
authors.forename: Yzel R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Súarez
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Entomologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil (michelecastro.ufgd@gmail.com; paulo_robertoivi@hotmail.com; angel_bio1@yahoo.com.br; williamantonialli@yahoo.com.br).|Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Rodovia Dourados/Itahum, km 12, Caixa Postal 351, 79804-970, Dourados, MS, Brazil.|Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brazil (yzelrondonsuarez@gmail.com).
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Antonialli-Junior
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D002102:Cadaver; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004772:Entomology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D034421:Sus scrofa
keywords: Diptera; Formicidae; forensic entomology; postmortem interval