Besouros (Coleoptera) associados a carcaças de Sus scrofa Linnaeus em área de restinga na Paraíba

Abstract

Beetles associated with decomposing carcasses in restinga environment, are being studied in this research, contributing information to forensic entomology, with respect to the estimated time of death of a body and translocation corpse. Four carcasses of pigs were used, two for each season in 2012. The carcasses were killed with a shot in the cranial region and placed in cages to prevent the action of scavengers. To collect beetles were used Shannon traps, pitfalls and collecting in the tray. We sampled 3,763 beetles belonging to 19 families and 96 species. The most abundant family was Histerid (n=1,406), followed by Staphylinidae (n=987) and Scarabaeidae (n=718). The family with the highest richness was Staphylinidae (S=23). The most species sampled were Euspilotus sp. 1 (n=930) Xerosaprinus diptychus (n=229) Euspilotus sp. 4 (n=155), Hypocaccus sp. (n=48) (Histeridae), Atheta sp. 1 (n=457), Hongophila sp. (n=269) Lissohypnus sp. (n=81), Philonthus sp. 1 (n=78) (Staphylinidae), Aidophus impressus (n=372), Dichotomius sp. gr geminatus (n=215), Parataenius simulator (n=64), Ateuchus sp. (n=46) (Scarabaeidae), Dermestes maculatus (n=143) (Dermestidae), Necrobia rufipes (n=104) (Cleridae) and Omorgus suberosus (n=78) (Trogidae). Due the difference in abundance and richness was observed seasonal behavior of beetles, since 80% were sampled in the rainy season and the richness ranged from 59 in this season to 26 in drought season. The succession of beetles varied from one station to another, probably due to the seasonal behvior. The nighttime show higher abundance of beetles (54%). The families with abundance above 70% during the night were Trogidae (78%), Tenebrionidae (74%) and Scarabaeidae (72%). None family had such value for daytime. The species referred to as potential forensic to restinga were D. maculates and N. rufipes by reproducing in the carcasses, and also Hypocaccus sp. and Bledius fernandezi by presenting a strict record of dunes and beach, similar environments studied here, suggesting that these species serve as indicators of the area.