Effect of the red imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and carcass type on the daily occurrence of postfeeding carrion-fly larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae).

Red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, caused an increased in the proportion of gaps in the daily occurrence of postfeeding larvae of Cochliomyia macellaria (F.) in carrion-baited traps. Chrysomya rufifacies appeared later in the decomposition process and over a wider period of days in goat than in rabbit carcasses. The dependence of presence or absence of a carrion arthropod taxon at a given point in succession on interactions between other arthropods or carcass type must be considered when using successional data to estimate postmortem intervals.