Sarcosaprophagous dipterans associated with the carcass of the Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber): First Record of Peckia (Peckia) pexata Wulp colonizing a wild animal carcass

Abstract

Brazil presents a high number of wild animals killed in road accidents, which may be associated with the high number of highways. Such animals represent an ephemeral food source for various animals, including sarcosaprophagous flies of the families Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae. The objective of this work was to report the fauna of sarcosaprophagous dipterans associated with the carcass of Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber) found on a highway in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. Four species of Calliphoridae were recorded visiting the carcass, Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) (n= 20), Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann, 1830) (n= 1), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) (n= 2), and Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel, 1858) (n= 1). However, only two larvae completed the cycle, belonging to the species Peckia (Peckia) pexata Wulp (Sarcophagidae). Furthermore, this is the first record of P. (P.) pexata colonizing a carcass of a wild animal. This study confirms that carcasses are a temporary resource for dipterans, besides reinforcing the importance of the family Sarcophagidae as a colonizing group of wild carcasses.

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