Carcasses of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa L.) were exposed in an urban area in the vicinity of Campinas SP, Brazil, to determine stages of decomposition and insects of forensic significance exploiting the carcasses. Four species of Calliphoridae (Diptera) were collected and considered to be of potential forensic significance for urban situations in the regions: Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya putoria, and Lucilia eximia. Unlike many other studies, Sarcophagidae were relatively late arrivals at the carcass with actvity beginning on day 5, while Muscidae species arrived early. Ant activity, which began on day 1 of the study, was observed to retard the rate of biomass removal. © 2004 The Authors, The Guest Editor & Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. All rights reserved.513339Catts, E.P., Goff, M.L., Forensic entomology in criminal investigations (1992) Ann. Rev. Entomol., 37, pp. 253-272Smith, K.G.V., (1986) A Manual of Forensic Entomology, p. 205. , Cornell Univ Press, Ithaca, NYKeh, B., Scope and applications of forensic entomology (1985) Ann. Rev. Entomol., 30, pp. 137-154Nuorteva, P., Sarcosaprophagous insects as forensic indicators (1997) Forensic Medicine: A Study in Trauma and Environmental Hazards, 2, pp. 1072-1095. , C.G. Tedeshi, W.G. Eckert, L.G. Tedeshi (Eds), LondonOliva, A., Ravioli, J., Trezza, F., Navarri, C., Entomologia forensic (1995) Pren Méd Argent, 82, pp. 229-234Catts, E.P., Haskell, N.H., (1990) Entomology & Death: A Procedural Guide, p. 182. , Joyce's Print Shop, USAGoff, M.L., Lord, W.D., Entomotoxicology: A new area for forensic investigation (1994) Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol., 15, pp. 51-57Marchenko, M.I., Medicolegal relevance of cadaver entomofauna for the determination of the time of death (2001) Forensic Sci. Internat., 120, pp. 89-100Erzinçlioglu, Y.Z., The application of entomology to forensic medicine (1983) Med. Sci. Law, 12, pp. 57-63Souza, A.M., Linhares, A.X., Diptera and Coleopta of potential forensic importance in southeastern Brazil: Relative abundance and seasonality (1997) Med. Vet. Entamol., 11, pp. 8-12Carvalho, L.M.L., Linhares, A.X., Seasonality of insect succession and pig carcass decomposition in a natural forest area in Southeastern Brazil (2001) J. Forensic Sci., 46, pp. 604-608Anderson, G.A., VanLaerhoven, S.L., Initials studies on insect succession on carrion in Southwestern British Columbia (1996) J. Forensic Sci., 41, pp. 617-625Early, M., Giff, M.L., Arthropod succession patterns in exposed carrion on the Island of Oahu, hawaiian Island, USA (1986) J. Med. Entomol., 23, pp. 520-531Goff, M.L., Estimation of postmoertem interval using arthopod development and successional patterns (1993) Forensic Sci. Rev., 5, pp. 81-94Richards, E.N., Goff, M.L., Arthropod succession on exposed carrion in three contrasting tropical habitats on Hawaii Island, Hawaii (1997) J. Med. Entomol., 34, pp. 328-339Payne, J.A., A summer carrion study of the baby pig Sus scrofa Linnaeus (1965) Ecology, 46, pp. 592-602Stoker, R.L., Grant, W.E., Vinson, S.B., Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) effect on invertebrate decomposers of carrion in Central Texas (1995) Environ. Entomol., 24, pp. 817-822Houston, D.C., Effect of ant predation on carrion insect communities in a brazilian forest (1987) Biotropica, 119, p. 376