Diversity of sarcosaprophagous Diptera (Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae) in organic and conventional mango plantations in the Brazilian semi-arid region

Abstract

ABSTRACT Increase on intensive monocultures is an important threat to Caatinga biodiversity decrease. The use of chemical insecticides directly affects insect natural enemies of crops, but also non-target species. We aimed to test whether the diversity of sarcosaprophagous flies would be affected by agricultural management (conventional and organic). Adult dipterans were collected monthly, from July 2015 to January 2016, using a grid composed of 12 suspended traps distant 20 m from each other, baited with 150 g of sardine or bovine spleen, in each type of management. We first calculated α-diversity by Hill numbers, then evaluated the difference of diversity metrics by ANOVA. We also graphically visualise the species composition distribution by NMDS. We recorded a total of 4,651 specimens of 15 Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae species. Chrysomya spp. were the dominant species (93.7% of all blowflies). Sarcophagidae species were sampled in low abundance, but with exclusive presence of some species in each treatment (e.g. B laesoxipha stallengi and Ravinia belforti in organic management). Although there was no difference on sarcosaprophagous fly diversity between treatments, we demonstrate empirically that mango plantations in the Caatinga harbour diverse and abundant assemblages of sarcosaprophagous dipterans, whose richness of species is comparable to other ecosystems such as rainforests and urban areas. Our results expand the known geographical range for forensically relevant species by providing a checklist of sarcosaprophagous dipterans that can thrive in agroecosystems in the Caatinga and, potentially, colonize cadavers disposed in that type of environment.

Keywords

• Caatinga
• Agroecosystem
• Forensic Entomology
• Chrysomya
• Oxysarcodexia