Insect action in vertebrae of Stegomastodon waringi (Mammalia, Gomphotheriidae) from the Pleistocene of Águas de Araxá, Minas Gerais, Brazil [Insect action in vertebrae of Stegomastodon waringi (Mammalia, Gomphotheriidae) from the Pleistocene of Águas de Araxá, Minas Gerais, Brazil]

Borings in several cervical vertebrae of Pleistocene mastodons, found in deposits from Įguas de Araxį city (Minas Gerais State), are recognized here. These borings are assigned to coleopterans pupae chambers. They are represented by hollow oval-shaped structures (without filling), excavated in the spongy part of the bone. The presence of these excavations suggests that the bone fragments of mastodons from Araxį had a relatively long time of exposure, which was sufficient to allow beetles posture, but not long enough to allow the weathering destroy them.