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Ivorra T, Martínez-Sánchez A, Velásquez Y, Henry L. Disney R, Rojo S. Estimation of PMI for human remains wrapped in a blanket, with first report of Puliciphora rufipes (Phoridae) and Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Muscidae) outdoor in SE Spain. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2022; 57:102077. [DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2022.102077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Feng DX, Wu J, Sun DP. Intrapuparial Age Estimation of Forensically Important Dohrniphora cornuta (Diptera: Phoridae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:616-624. [PMID: 33112405 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dohrniphora cornuta (Bigot) is a forensically important phorid fly indoors and in burial environments. The determination of a minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) often relies on the determination of the age of the immatures. Although the larval development data of D. cornuta under different temperatures has been established, the intrapuparial stage which lasts for about half of the total immature development is scarce. In this study, we investigated the key morphological changes during intrapuparial development at constant temperatures (15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36°C), with an aim to estimate the intrapuparial age of D. cornuta. Puparia were sampled at 12-h (24, 27, 30, and 33°C), 24-h (18 and 21°C), and 48-h (15°C) intervals. The morphological developments within the puparium were analyzed using a stereomicroscope after the puparium was removed. The average minimum duration of intrapuparial stage was inversely related to temperature, ranging from 184.79 ± 3.00 h at 30°C to 1102.86 ± 25.55 h at 15°C for female, and 197.40 ± 4.12 h at 30°C to 1175.33 ± 18.55 h at 15°C for male. It did not develop at 36°C. Some morphological traits that changed during development within the puparium could be used as age markers. According to these changes, the intrapuparial stage of D. cornuta was divided into nine stages which could be used for both sexes. This study provides relatively systematic development data of D. cornuta intrapuparial for the estimation of PMImin in forensic entomology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian-Xing Feng
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Shenyang University, Dadong District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Wu
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Shenyang University, Dadong District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Da-Peng Sun
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Shenyang University, Dadong District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China
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Stay cool or get hot? An applied primer for using temperature in forensic entomological case work. Sci Justice 2020; 60:415-422. [PMID: 32873381 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The reliable reconstruction of the temperature conditions at a crime scene is still a great challenge in forensic-entomological case work. Despite many published standards and guidelines for reconstructing temperature, and studies analysing the influence of various factors on the accuracy on such reconstructions, there are astonishingly many cases in the literature in which the temperature at the place of discovery is not reconstructed at all, i.e. the most common method is using the data of the nearest meteorological weather station without any correlation with on-site data. This study summarizes the state of the art in temperature reconstruction from an entomological point of view and compares the application of generalized additive models (GAMs) and linear regression on the basis of hypothetical death scenarios with various post mortem intervals (PMI) and measurement periods for the correlation between crime scene and weather station. We show that GAMs i.e. analysing the potential delay effect of temperature within a day, are the tools of choice because they give better, i.e. more accurate estimations than linear regression in 95,6% of all analysed cases regardless of the PMI, body discovery site and correlation period. Nevertheless, each case and crime scene is unique and therefore each entomological expertise should discuss the possible strengths and weaknesses of its temperature reconstruction. Even if temperature is not or cannot be reconstructed for various reasons, a comparison of on-site data with those of a meteorological weather station is the minimum forensic experts should do.
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Iancu L, Junkins EN, Purcarea C. Characterization and microbial analysis of first recorded observation of Conicera similis Haliday (Diptera: Phoridae) in forensic decomposition study in Romania. J Forensic Leg Med 2018; 58:50-55. [PMID: 29747081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2018.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The identification of necrophagous insect diversity and dynamics has forensic significance for postmortem interval estimation specific to burial. Few studies regarding the necrophagous entomofauna from buried remains have been performed to date. In contrast to the exposed carcasses, the accessibility of soil to insects is limited due to burial depth and is dependent on soil type. This study highlights the colonization behavior of Conicera similis (Haliday 1833) (Diptera: Phoridae) during carcass decomposition, a previously unobserved taxon in Romania. Adult and larvae specimens were collected from rat (Rattus norvegicus) carcasses buried at 40 cm depth in an urban park environment in June 2016 during active decomposition and their presence and activity period was correlated with the environmental parameters variation. Bacterial diversity from C. similis female adult and larvae specimens was determined via 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing to further characterize these commonly encountered and forensically important necrophagous insects. This report signals the easternmost geographical location in Europe (Bucharest, Romania) of C. similis to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Iancu
- Institute of Biology Bucharest, Department of Microbiology, 296 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 060031, Romania.
| | - Emily N Junkins
- University of Oklahoma, Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA.
| | - Cristina Purcarea
- Institute of Biology Bucharest, Department of Microbiology, 296 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 060031, Romania.
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Big data from tiny flies: patterns revealed from over 42,000 phorid flies (Insecta: Diptera: Phoridae) collected over one year in Los Angeles, California, USA. Urban Ecosyst 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-016-0612-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Zuha RM, Ankasha SJ, Disney RHL, Omar B. Indoor decomposition study in Malaysia with special reference to the scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae). EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejfs.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Hauther KA, Cobaugh KL, Jantz LM, Sparer TE, DeBruyn JM. Estimating Time Since Death from Postmortem Human Gut Microbial Communities. J Forensic Sci 2015; 60:1234-40. [PMID: 26096156 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Revised: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Postmortem succession of human-associated microbial communities ("human microbiome") has been suggested as a possible method for estimating postmortem interval (PMI) for forensic analyses. Here we evaluate human gut bacterial populations to determine quantifiable, time-dependent changes postmortem. Gut microflora were repeatedly sampled from the proximal large intestine of 12 deceased human individuals as they decayed under environmental conditions. Three intestinal bacterial genera were quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) using group-specific primers targeting 16S rRNA genes. Bacteroides and Lactobacillus relative abundances declined exponentially with increasing PMI at rates of Nt=0.977e(-0.0144t) (r2=0.537, p<0.001) and Nt=0.019e(-0.0087t) (r2=0.396, p<0.001), respectively, where Nt is relative abundance at time (t) in cumulative degree hours. Bifidobacterium relative abundances did not change significantly: Nt=0.003e(-0.002t) (r2=0.033, p=0.284). Therefore, Bacteroides and Lactobacillus abundances could be used as quantitative indicators of PMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen A Hauther
- Department of Anthropology, 250 South Stadium Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA, 37996
| | - Kelly L Cobaugh
- Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science, 2506 EJ Chapman Drive, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA, 37996
| | - Lee Meadows Jantz
- Department of Anthropology, 250 South Stadium Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA, 37996
| | - Tim E Sparer
- Department of Microbiology, M409 Walters Life Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA, 37996
| | - Jennifer M DeBruyn
- Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science, 2506 EJ Chapman Drive, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA, 37996
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Further occurrences of Dohrniphora cornuta (Bigot) (Diptera, Phoridae) in forensic cases indicate likely importance of this species in future cases. Forensic Sci Int 2014; 241:e20-2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Arnaldos MI, Ubero-Pascal N, García R, Carles-Tolrá M, Presa JJ, García MD. The first report of Telomerina flavipes (Meigen, 1830) (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae) in a forensic case, with redescription of its pupa. Forensic Sci Int 2014; 242:e22-e30. [PMID: 25128390 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2013] [Revised: 07/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a forensic investigation that took place in the city of Murcia (SE Spain) and shows how the entomological specimens collected at the scene were extremely helpful for estimating the minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin). The occurrence of Telomerina flavipes (Meigen, 1830) (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) is reported here for the first time in a forensic case. Additionally, the importance of other entomological evidence in this case is discussed. The first known images of the puparium are provided, as well as its redescription and that of the cephalopharyngeal skeleton recovered from the puparium.
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Affiliation(s)
- María-Isabel Arnaldos
- Area of Zoology, Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Unit of Service of Forensic Entomology and Evidence Microscopic Analysis, External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECYTEF), University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Nicolás Ubero-Pascal
- Area of Zoology, Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Unit of Service of Forensic Entomology and Evidence Microscopic Analysis, External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECYTEF), University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Rafael García
- Murcia Institute of Legal Medicine, Luis Fontes Pagán, 2, 30003 Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Juan-José Presa
- Area of Zoology, Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Unit of Service of Forensic Entomology and Evidence Microscopic Analysis, External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECYTEF), University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - María-Dolores García
- Area of Zoology, Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Unit of Service of Forensic Entomology and Evidence Microscopic Analysis, External Service of Forensic Sciences and Techniques (SECYTEF), University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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López-Esclapez R, García MD, Arnaldos MI, Presa JJ, Ubero-Pascal N. Are the evidences of forensic entomology preserved in ethanol suitable for SEM studies? Micron 2014; 62:43-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2014.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2013] [Revised: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Pupal age estimation of forensically important Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae). Forensic Sci Int 2014; 236:133-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Revised: 12/24/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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