Insect succession on Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) carrion in District Peshawar

The present research work was carried out to study insect succession on rabbit carrion in District Peshawar at Agronomy Research Farm (ARF), The University of Agriculture Peshawar, during the year 2015. Five decomposition stages recorded were fresh, bloating, decay, post decay and dry stages. A total 16 species of insects from 11 families in 3 orders i.e. Diptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were collected and identified from rabbit carrion. Collected insects species from order Diptera during fresh, bloating and decay stages were Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Chrysomya rufifacies (Maquart), Lucilia illustris (Meigen), Lucilia ampullacea (Villeneuve), Phormia regina (Meigen), Sarcophaga sp., Musca domestica (Muscidae) while from order Coleoptera the species such as Gnathoncus sp., Saprinus sp. and Scarabaeid sp. were observed in the late bloating and decay stages, Necrobia rufipes, Necrophila rufithorax and Staphylinid sp. were recorded in decay and post decay stages while Dermestes maculates was noticed in post decay and dry stages. Ants were recorded throughout the decomposition period and red wasps were observed in bloating and decay stages in particular.