Carrion is an example of ephemeral and patchy microhabitat, rich in organic matter and therefore frequently colonized with a specific and repeated sequence by various arthropods. Beetles of the family Histeridae are a stable component of carrion communities, however their biology and ecology is poorly studied. Succession of insects on decomposing carrion may be used to determine elapsed time since death (so called post-mortem interval, PMI in forensic entomology). Recent studies have shown that some species of histerid beetles are highly useful for this purpose. However it requires detailed information on their biology, phenology and habitat preference. Seasonality, habitat preference and residency on carrion of histerid beetles were analyzed while studying succession of insects on 36 pig carcasses (mean weight = 25.8 kg) in spring, summer and autumn, in pine - oak forest, hornbeam - oak forest, and alder forest (2 carcasses/ forest type/season/year). The experiment was conducted in the Wielkopolska region (Western Poland) in 2006 and 2007. The spring part lasted 88 days in 2006 and 105 days in 2007, the summer part – 49 days in both years and the autumn part – 94 days in 2006 and 105 days in 2007. Among 21 adult species recorded, Saprinus semistriatus (Scriba), Margarinotus striola succicola (Thomson) and Margarinotus brunneus (Fabricius) were the most numerous. Moreover, larvae of Saprinus and Margarinotus were collected. Abundance (numbers per one carcass) of most adult species of Margarinotus was influenced both by the forest type and season whereas abundance of species of Saprinus was influenced only by the season. Most species reached the highest number of adults in spring. Only S. semistriatus was similarly abundant both in spring and summer. Larvae of Margarinotus were most abundant in spring, whereas larvae of Saprinus in summer. The majority of Margarinotus species reached their higher numbers in hornbeam - oak forest. Residency on carrion in adult S. semistriatus had a clear peak of abundance in spring (after 36 days of decomposition) and was shorter than residency in adult M. striola succicola and M. brunneus for which no clear peak was found. We suggest that differences in forest type preferences may result from differences in soil humidity and temperature near the forest floor, whereas differences in residency period on carrion between Margarinotus and Saprinus may be explained by differences in release patterns of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) attracting these genera.
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