Insect activity in FEB

[Arcayus]

Hello everyone, perhaps you can help me, i was wondering how much insect activity there is during the months of Febuary and March in the UK. I am doing a study on the decomposition of small animal bodies during the colder months and i would like to know whether or not insects would play a large role in the process. Any help would be fantastic! Thank you!!!

[Dogghound]

It is highly dependant on habitat and location. If your study was in a sheltered area of woodland in southern England you would expect to get several species of Calliphorid. You would almost certainally get some of the smaller families of diptera regardless of location. Coleoptera tend to be less active throughout these months. It is a very interesting study and im sure insect contribution would be significant over prolonged warm periods.

[Acutipuerilis]

One group that is extremely active and abundant over the winter is the Collembola - springtails. Not technically insects, but pretty close. In leaf litter they are general decomposers, and although I believe they generally go for vegetable matter, I'd be amazed if they weren't scavengeres when the opportunity arose.