Carrion-visiting ants in Brazil: a 26-year systematic review

Carrion decomposition is mediated by microorganisms and a diverse community of detritivorous and necrophagous insects. Among these, ants play an important role by either preying on other insects or fragmenting vertebrate carcasses, potentially delaying or accelerating the decomposition process. However, little is known about their diversity and ecological dynamics on carcasses in Brazil. This chapter presents a systematic review of research conducted in Brazil over the past 26 years involving ants and carcasses. During this period, 49 studies identified ants on carcasses, but most focused on other insect groups. A total of 162 ant species were recorded, likely an underestimate, as only 16% of studies identified ants to species level. The most frequently recorded genera were <i>Camponotus</i>, <i>Pheidole</i>, <i>Solenopsis</i>, and <i>Crematogaster</i>, which are also widely found in Brazil. Several ecological guilds were observed engaging in both necrophagy and predation. This lack of specificity suggests that ants’ role in carcass decomposition might not be strictily tied to their ecological guild. Instead, traits such as morphology could be more important than feeding or nesting habits in determining ants’ role and impact in decomposition. We propose a new research direction focusing on interactions and communities of frequently observed ant species with varying morphology and behavior in cadaveric contexts, alongside hypothesis-driven investigations in decomposition ecology and forensic entomology. Given the high species richness and research interest in the country, Brazil presents a promising scenario for studies on ants in carcasses and applied forensic entomology.