Insects Associated with Animal Carcasses in the Margoon Region of Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad Province with Two New Records from South West of Iran

Insects associated with dead bodies are very diverse and very important in decomposition and recycling of the carcasses.  The present study was conducted in the Margoon region of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province (Iran) to determine the species diversity of carrion insects associated with decomposing remains of different animals.

Different cadavers of domestic goat, rat and chicken were collected and carrion insects were sampled from them in different seasons during one year.

In total, 21 species of carrion insects including 13 necrophages, 3 predators, 3 omnivores and 2 casual species were collected and identified.

Based on the data, the order Coleoptera (beetles) was the most diverse group as regards species among the orders collected, and the highest diversity was observed during spring. Two species, namely, Thanatophilus rugosus and Saprinus maculatus were reported to be new in the south west of Iran. Furthermore, our results show that the species diversity of carrion insects in the region studied was rather high.