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Beaumont C, Cabon F, Larquier C, Azémar F, Braet Y, Pelozuelo L. Carrion insects living within the bones of large mammals: insect conservation and forensic entomology implications. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2024; 111:30. [PMID: 38758365 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-024-01916-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Succession patterns of carrion insects on large mammal's carrion has been widely studied, notably to estimate the post-mortem interval in forensic investigations as accurately as possible. However, little attention has been paid to the carrion insects living inside these bones once a carcass is skeletonized. One very recent study documented flies emerging from pig carcasses, and only scarce authors reported the presence of other carrion insects taking advantage of the bone marrow. We, thus, aimed to (1) estimate the frequency of inner-bone space colonization by carrion insects, with particular attention to bone-skipper flies; (2) identify the insects living inside the carrion bones; and (3) determine whether or not carrion insects found within the bones can successfully exit the bones and complete their development. We extensively sampled 185 large mammals' bones collected from twelve vulture feeding stations and four isolated carcasses in southwest France and northern Spain. Sampled bones were opened, and the insects found inside were identified. For two bones, foramen, i.e., the holes providing a natural entrance and exit to the bone's inner cavity, was monitored with a camera to assess the insect's putative exit. We describe the entomofauna, i.e., the set of insect species, living within the bones, and illustrate insects' ability to exit the bones for their subsequent development and maturity. These results are discussed in the framework of carrion insect conservation and forensic entomology perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Beaumont
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3-Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 09, France
- Master Biodiversité Ecologie, Evolution, Parcours Gestion de La Biodiversité, Université Toulouse 3-Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 09, France
| | - Flavien Cabon
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3-Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 09, France
- Master Biodiversité Ecologie, Evolution, Parcours Gestion de La Biodiversité, Université Toulouse 3-Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 09, France
| | - Corentin Larquier
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3-Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 09, France
- Master Biodiversité Ecologie, Evolution, Parcours Gestion de La Biodiversité, Université Toulouse 3-Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 09, France
| | - Frédéric Azémar
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3-Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 09, France
| | - Yves Braet
- Laboratoire Microtraces/Entomologie, Institut National de Criminalistique Et de Criminologie, Chaussée de Vilvoorde 100, B-1120, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurent Pelozuelo
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3-Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 09, France.
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Iwasa M, Okura M. Fauna of flies (Diptera) on bones and emergence succession: Forensic implications in skeletal remains. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 348:111705. [PMID: 37098290 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Fauna of flies on pig carcasses and bones and their emergence succession were investigated in Hokkaido, Japan. A total of 55,937 flies consisting 23 identified species in 16 families was collected from emergence traps after removal of carcasses and emergence containers containing bones. In emergence traps, Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus) emerged earliest, followed by Hydrotaea ignava (Harris). Piophilid flies emerged 22-25 days later than L. caesar, and their emergence periods were prolonged. In emergent flies from bones, Piophilidae was the dominant family, comprising five species; Stearibia nigriceps (Meigen) was the most abundant, followed by Liopiophila varipes (Meigen) and Protopiophila latipes (Meigen). Stearibia nigriceps and L. varipes remarkably dominated in summer bones and overwintering spring bones, respectively. Piophilids emerged from all 11 types of bones; the thoracic spine significantly yielded the most numerous individuals in S. nigriceps. The developmental duration of larvae of S. nigriceps in bones was estimated to be 12-34 days after placement of carcasses in summer. Observations of overwintering bones showed that L. varipes and Centrophlebomyia grunini (Ozerov) overwintered in larvae inside of bones. The importance of examining piophilid larvae in bones and their potential forensic usefulness are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuhiro Iwasa
- Laboratory of Entomology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
| | - Mai Okura
- Laboratory of Entomology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
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Hu G, Li L, Guo Y, Kang C, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Wang J, Wang Y. Temperature-Dependent Development of Nitidula rufipes (Linnaeus, 1767) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Its Significance in Estimating Minimum Postmortem Interval. INSECTS 2023; 14:299. [PMID: 36975984 PMCID: PMC10058101 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Coleoptera, including the family Nitidulidae, are valuable for estimating long-term postmortem intervals in the late stage of body decomposition. This study showed that, under seven constant temperatures of 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34 °C, the developmental durations of Nitidula rufipes (Linnaeus, 1767) from oviposition to eclosion were 71.0 ± 4.4, 52.9 ± 4.1, 40.1 ± 3.4, 30.1 ± 2.1, 24.2 ± 2.0, 21.0 ±2.3, and 20.8 ± 2.4 days, respectively. The morphological indexes of body length, the widths of the head capsules, and the distance between the urogomphi of the larvae were measured in vivo. The regression model between larval body length and developmental durations was simulated for larval aging, and the head capsule width and the distance between the urogomphi at different instars were cluster-analyzed for instar discrimination. Based on the developmental durations, larval body length and thermal summation data were obtained, and the isomorphen diagram, isomegalen diagram, linear thermal summation models, and curvilinear Optim SSI models were established. The lower developmental threshold and thermal summation constant of N. rufipes evaluated by the linear thermal summation models were 9.65 ± 0.62 °C and 471.40 ± 25.46 degree days, respectively. The lower developmental thresholds, intrinsic optimum temperature, and upper lethal developmental threshold obtained by Optim SSI models were 10.12, 24.15, and 36.00 °C, respectively. The study of the immature stages of N. rufipes can provide preliminary basic developmental data for the estimation of minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). However, more extensive studies are needed on the effects of constant and fluctuating temperatures on the development of N. rufipes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yu Wang
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-155-2114-3385
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Thümmel L, Lutz L, Geissenberger J, Pittner S, Heimer J, Amendt J. Decomposition and insect succession of pig cadavers in tents versus outdoors - A preliminary study. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 346:111640. [PMID: 36933523 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
The pattern of insect succession and the species composition on cadavers can be influenced by several parameters, one of which is concealment. It has been previously shown for cadavers inside containers (e.g. suitcases or vehicles) or various indoor situations, that concealment can lead to a delayed arrival, altered species composition and decreased number of taxa present at the cadaver. As no data is yet available for the specific environment of tents on these processes, we placed five pig cadavers inside closed two-person tents during the summer of 2021 in a mixed forest in Germany. Five control cadavers were freely accessible for insects. To minimize disturbances, tents were only opened every fifth day over a period of 25 days for estimating the temperature profiles, insect diversity and quantification of the cadavers' decomposition using the total body score (TBS). The temperature inside the tents was only slightly elevated compared to the ambient temperature during the study. Although the tents prevented direct access of adult flies and beetles, the cadavers were colonized because the flies oviposited on the zippers and fly screens of the inner tents. However, the resulting infestation of the cadavers by fly larvae was reduced and delayed, compared to the exposed cadavers. The dominant fly species on both the tent and exposed cadavers was the blow fly Lucilia caesar. Open cadavers showed the expected decomposition patterns with large larval masses. 25 days after placement, only bones and hair remained from the exposed pigs (TBS = 32), while most of the tissue of the cadavers inside the tents was still present (TBS = 22.5) and post feeding larvae were not able to leave the tents. Regarding the attraction of beetles to both treatments, open cadavers were predominately colonized by the silphid Oiceoptoma thoracicum, while the silphid Necrodes littoralis was the most dominant species in the pitfall traps surrounding the tents. Considering the prolonged pre-appearance interval of fly larvae colonizing the cadavers inside tents, the entomological evidence of forensic cases dealing with concealed bodies should be handled with caution, since the post mortem interval might be significantly underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise Thümmel
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Lena Lutz
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Janine Geissenberger
- Department of Environment and Biodiversity, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Str. 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Stefan Pittner
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Ignaz Harrer St. 79, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Jonathan Heimer
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Heisenbergstraße 2, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Amendt
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Succession patterns of sarcosaprophagous insects on pig carcasses in different months in Yangtze River Delta, China. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 342:111518. [PMID: 36413865 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Yangtze River Delta is one of the most economically developed regions in China, and many cases in the area require an estimation of the postmortem interval each year. This article reports forensic entomological research conducted in this region in different months. A total of 18 domestic pigs were used to study carcass decomposition, species composition, development events, and succession patterns of insects in different months from 2015 to 2021. A total of 53 arthropod species were identified, of which 38, 40, 41, and 25 were observed in April, June, September, and November, respectively. We demonstrated that insects vary in number and species from month to month, and the same species vary in number among the different months. Larvae of Calliphoridae mainly drove the decomposition of carcasses, and the decomposition rate of carcasses varied over the months. Particularly, the decomposition rate was highest in June and September, slower in April, and slowest in November. The predominant species on the carcasses also varied from month to month; Calliphora grahami Aldrich, Chrysomya pinguis (Walker), Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and Hydrotaea spinigera Stein (Diptera: Muscidae) were most predominant in April; Chrysomya megacephala (F.) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were most predominant in June and September; and Ca. grahami was most predominant in November. In addition, the seven dominant insect species displayed four developmental events, which could be used to determine minimum postmortem interval, including adult arrival (T1), larvae wandering (T2), pupation (T3), and eclosion (T4) time on the carcasses. Insect succession patterns on carcasses also varied across months. For example, Ch. megacephala appeared later in the composition stages and was not numerically dominant in April but appeared earlier and was dominant in June and September. The results of this study guide the use of insect evidence in different months in the Yangtze River Delta region of China for estimating the postmortem interval of carcasses.
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Cabanillas D. Ampliación de la distribución conocida de coleópteros, dípteros e himenópteros sarcosaprófagos (Arthropoda: Insecta) con potencial interés forense en la península ibérica. GRAELLSIA 2022. [DOI: 10.3989/graellsia.2022.v78.326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Con el objetivo de ampliar la distribución conocida y el conocimiento ecológico de las especies sarcosaprófagas con potencial interés forense en la península ibérica, se recopilan 758 nuevos registros correspondientes a 105 especies de coleópteros, dípteros e himenópteros en 43 provincias españolas y 4 distritos portugueses. Se registran un total de 89 primeras citas provinciales y se aportan numerosas localidades inéditas que permiten ampliar el rango de distribución conocido de la entomofauna sarcosaprófaga ibérica. Entre los resultados más relevantes destaca la expansión territorial de los dípteros alóctonos Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) y Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) en la península ibérica. Además, se documentan hábitos sarcosaprófagos por primera vez en el formícido Hypoponera eduardi (Forel, 1894). Finalmente, se discuten los resultados ecológicos obtenidos en relación a las comunidades sarcosaprófagas y su potencial interés en estudios forenses.
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Arnaldos MI, García MD. Entomological Contributions to the Legal System in Southeastern Spain. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12050429. [PMID: 34068735 PMCID: PMC8150274 DOI: 10.3390/insects12050429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work is to present a number of forensic cases that took place in Southeastern Spain (Murcia province) in which the entomological evidence aided to fully solve the issues raised during the legal enquiry, enhancing the close interrelationships between experimental studies performed and actual forensic cases assessed. In all cases, the expert report was requested by the police agents or the medical examiners, the latter attempting to make stronger their own conclusions. The assessment of all cases was possible by comparing the evidence and circumstances of each one with the experimental data previously obtained in our laboratory concerning aspects such as faunistic, ecological, morphological, etc., and by considering data from other researchers. In all cases, the evidence could be addressed, although in some cases, it had not been properly collected or processed. Thus, the utility of the experimental studies in forensic practice, even when being considered merely biological, and without immediate practical application, can be demonstrated as well as the need for providing specialized instruction on Forensic Entomology procedures to the different agents involved in forensic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- María-Isabel Arnaldos
- Area of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;
- Unit of Forensic Entomology and Evidence Microscopic Analysis, External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - María-Dolores García
- Area of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain;
- Unit of Forensic Entomology and Evidence Microscopic Analysis, External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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Pittner S, Bugelli V, Weitgasser K, Zissler A, Sanit S, Lutz L, Monticelli F, Campobasso CP, Steinbacher P, Amendt J. A field study to evaluate PMI estimation methods for advanced decomposition stages. Int J Legal Med 2020; 134:1361-1373. [PMID: 32248308 PMCID: PMC7295721 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-020-02278-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the major tasks and a continuous challenge in forensic pathology. It is often an exclusion process of available methods, which ultimately can lead to an unsatisfactory outcome due to poor reliability. This problem is most acute in the late PMI, when decomposition proceeds and some methods (such as rigor, livor, and algor mortis) are no longer applicable. Several methods, such as forensic entomology, skeletal muscle protein degradation, and the study of body decomposition by application of a morphological scoring, are expected to provide further information; however, all have certain limitations and weaknesses. Availability of a tool-box of methods allows a case-specific selection of the most appropriate one(s), or eventually provides improvements in the overall accuracy and precision of the PMI estimation by merging and combining methods. To investigate practical (field) application, eventual interferences, and/or synergetic effects, as well as the robustness of these methods towards specific influencing factors, a field study was conducted, using eight pig cadavers of different body weights and physical coverage, left to decompose under natural conditions for 16 days. Morphological changes during decomposition were assessed using the total body score (TBS), muscle samples were collected to analyze protein degradation, and insect colonization was evaluated. The results reveal strengths and current limitations of all tested methods, as well as promising synergistic effects, and thus, provide a baseline for targeted future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Pittner
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Valentina Bugelli
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | | | - Angela Zissler
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sangob Sanit
- Department of Parasitology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Lena Lutz
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Fabio Monticelli
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Carlo P Campobasso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University L. Vanvitelli of Campania, Aversa, Italy
| | - Peter Steinbacher
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Jens Amendt
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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