Preliminary checklist of beetles associated with pig carrions decomposition in Okija, Anambra state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study to ascertain the beetles associated with decomposing pig carrions in Okija, Anambra State, Nigeria was carried out in an open fallow plot (05^o 53.24^o N and 006^o48.5^o E) within the ambient temperature and relative humidity of 30.2 ± 0.28 ^oC and 68.5 ± 1.34 % respectively. The beetles found on the decomposing carrions were collected with blunt forceps and handpicked. They were preserved in a 70% ethanol and morphologically identified by a taxonomist. The beetles consist of seven families; Chrysomelidae, Dermestidae, Staphylinidae, Cleridae, Carabidae, Scarabaeidae and Histeridae, ten species - Buphonella sp., Dermestes frischii (Klug.), Ocypus raffrayi (Fauvel), Necrobia rufipes (Deg.), Necrobia ruficolis (Fab.), Angionychus lividus (Klug.), Zophosis sp., Gymnopleurus sp., Hypocacculus sp. and Hister sp. The arrival of the beetles was predictable and decomposition stage dependent. Their activities on the decomposing carrions include consumption of the carrion tissues and predating on other carrion insects. Thus, Buphonella sp., Dermestes frischii, Necrobia rufipes, Necrobia ruficolis, Ocypus raffrayi and Hister sp. were referred to as beetles of forensic importance, while the other beetles collected were grouped as either predator of the carrion feeders and/or opportunists on the carrions resource.

Keywords: Beetles, Chrysomelidae, Dermestidae, Staphylinidae, Cleridae, Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, Histeridae, Pig carrions, Decomposition, Forensic, Okija