DECOMPOSITION AND INSECT SUCCESSION PATTERN OF PIG (Sus scrofa L.) CARRION ON VARYING OUTDOOR SURFACES.

Abstract

Study on the decomposition and insect succession pattern of Pig (Sus scrofa L.) on varying outdoor surfaces was carried out at the Federal University of Technology research farm. Three pigs were killed through suffocation and placed on three varying outdoor surfaces. Pig 1 was placed on natural soil surface, Pig 2 on tarpaulin surface and Pig 3 on concrete surface. The pigs were exposed to the same elements, such as weather, precipitation, temperature and location. The sequence and composition of the local carrion visiting fauna, as well as, the rate of decomposition and their determinant climatic factors were measured. The decomposition process of the carrions took sixty days in the five phases – fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay and skeletonization. Seven orders of arthropods – Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Spirobolida and Araneae were collected on the carrions. At day 30, all the carrions were in advanced decay stage of decomposition. On day 60 however, soil surface carrion had moved into skeletonization stage. Tarpaulin surface and concrete surface carrions still remained in advanced decay stage of decomposition. This clearly indicates that the surface on which carrion lies affects decomposition. Total abundance of insects on soil surface was 1068, 982 insects on tarpaulin surface and 1040 insects on concrete surface. The most abundant order was diptera: 872 on soil surface, 787 on tarpaulin surface and 826 on concrete surface.