Development of Dermestes tessellatocollis Motschulsky under different constant temperatures and its implication in forensic entomology

Temperature models of development for Necrodes littoralis L. (Coleoptera: Silphidae), a carrion beetle of forensic importance in the Palearctic region

Analysis of insects can provide evidence in death cases, for example, by answering the question about the time of death. Apart from flies, beetles are the second most useful insect group in forensic entomology. To elucidate the time of death based on insect evidence, developmental models of a given species are necessary. In this study, we developed such models for Necrodes littoralis, a necrophagous beetle, which is common in the Palearctic region and has great potential in forensic entomology. We monitored the development at 10 constant temperatures (14–30 °C). Larvae were reared in aggregations. Thermal summation models, isomorphen and isomegalen diagrams and growth curves were derived using the data. Depending on the temperature, development lasted between about 23 and 89 days. Mortality was high at the extremes of the temperature range. The thermal summation constant for the total development was 434.7 ± 28.86 accumulated degree-days above a developmental threshold of 9.04 ± 0.55 °C. This is the first comprehensive dataset on the development of N. littoralis. Implications for its use in forensic casework are discussed.

Forensic Entomology in China and Its Challenges

Simple Summary

Forensic entomologists utilize sarcosaprophagous insect species to estimate the postmortem interval to aid death investigations. In this paper, we present the recent chronology of forensic entomology in China and illustrate how identification, development, and succession data are obtained and applied at the scale of such a large country. To overcome the difficulties and challenges forensic entomology faces in China, a number of countermeasures are provided.

Abstract

While the earliest record of forensic entomology originated in China, related research did not start in China until the 1990s. In this paper, we review the recent research progress on the species identification, temperature-dependent development, faunal succession, and entomological toxicology of sarcosaprophagous insects as well as common applications of forensic entomology in China. Furthermore, the difficulties and challenges forensic entomologists face in China are analyzed and possible countermeasures are presented.