The Open Forensic Science Journal

2013, 6 : 1-5
Published online 2013 February 8. DOI: 10.2174/1874402801306010001
Publisher ID: TOFORSJ-6-1

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Collected with Carrion-Baited Traps in Southeast Brazil

Thiago de Carvalho Moretti , Daniel Russ Solis and Wesley Augusto Conde Godoy
Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, 14040-901, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

ABSTRACT

Ants can both feed on vertebrate carrion and prey upon other arthropods inhabiting corpses. An investigation using carrion-baited traps was conducted in three environments (rural, urban, and forest) in six municipalities of southeast Brazil, from September 2006 to October 2007. We collected 113 specimens of ants from the subfamilies Dolichoderinae, Myrmicinae and Formicinae. Bait and environmental associations of ants and potential forensic implications of their actions are discussed.

Keywords:

Camponotus, Cephalotes, Dolichoderus.