Insect-carrion Interactions

Question 1

Necrophagy pros and cons

Answer 1

Pro - carrion source of protein
Con
- patchy distribution
- rapid suitability change
- contains indigestible material

Question 2

Competition if carrion

Answer 2

Creates trade off between developmental time and body size

Question 3

Timing of succession

Answer 3

Depends on carrion size, season and climate, edaphic environment

Question 4

Necrophagic succession

Answer 4

Initial decay - microorganisms, calliphoridae and muscidae
Putrefaction - sarcophagids, calliphorids and muscids, staphylinids arrive
Black putrefaction - blow flies leave, drosophilidae
Butyric fermentation - cheese-skippers
Slow dry decay - tineid (clothes moths)
Bones left