An Insect Complex of Large Animal Carcasses and the Peculiarities of Their Decomposition in Northern European Russia

Аннотация

An insect complex decomposing large animal carcasses was studied in two habitat types in northern European Russia (the Republic of Karelia), with the domestic pig Sus scrofa domesticus L. used as a model. Altogether, 100 species of insects belonging to 25 families and 6 orders were revealed on or in the carcasses. The two biotopes differed in the species composition and relative abundance of necrobionts. The structure and succession of the insect complex in the process of carcass decomposition are analyzed.