Population flotation of Whitius piger (Pseudoscorpionida) in poultry farm in Pelotas, RS, Brazil

Abstract

To evaluate the populational flotation of Whitius piger two monitoring methods
were used, a tube type trap and a sandwich type trap. The experiment took place in the period
of April 2002 to March of 2003, in an aviary from the Conjunto Agrotécnico Visconde da Graça
(CAVG), located at Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. During that period 1539 samples of
Whitius piger were captured, being the period of larger occurrence in the month of March (312),
when the monthly medium temperature was 22,2ºC and the smallest occurrence during the
month of June (11), with a monthly medium temperature of 14,5ºC. It has been found that the
Whitius piger was present iduring all the 12 months of collection, displaying a larger capture
during the months of higher temperatures and a smaller capture in the months of lower
temperatures.