Decaying animals represent a unique microhabitat for carrion breeding flies (Diptera). In this study, three alligators of similar weight and length were placed within close proximity to one another (longest distance of 50 meters) in order to investigate species composition of Diptera at each carcass under similar conditions. During August, 2002, three sites, with only subtle variations in physical habitat parameters, were chosen in a woodlot amidst the University of South Alabama’s main campus in Mobile, Alabama. All adult flies were collected daily using sweep nets and sticky traps; larvae were picked of several locations on a carcass and reared to adults for identification. Some blow flies (Calliphoridae) included Cochliomyia macellaria(Fabricus), Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart), Chrysomya megacephala (F.), Phaenicia coeruliviridis (Macq.) and Phaenicia cuprina (Weidemann). Other common flies collected on alligator carcasses were Bercaea haemorrhoidalis(Fallen) (Sarcophagidae), Fannia sp. (Muscidae), Piophila casei (Linnaeus) (Piophilidae), Hermetia illucens (L.) (Stratiomyidae) and Megaselia sp. (Phoridae). Slight or small-scale variations in physical habitats may alter fly communities visiting decaying animal matter and patterns of succession.
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