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Shao S, Liu S, Li L, Hu G, Zhang Y, Wang Y. Research Status of Sarcosaprophagous Beetles as Forensic Indicators. INSECTS 2024; 15:711. [PMID: 39336679 PMCID: PMC11432003 DOI: 10.3390/insects15090711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2024] [Revised: 09/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
In forensic entomology, research focused on sarcosaprophagous flies, but the sarcosaprophagous beetles, as important "forensic indicator species" of late-stage PMI in cadaver decomposition, received less attention. To increase attention on, and use and understanding of, sarcosaprophagous beetles in forensic entomology, this paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the available relevant literature. The occurrence frequency of beetle families and species from succession studies, actual cases, and experiments were calculated and illustrated using graphs. As a result, a total of 14 families and 1077 species associated with carcasses were collected, with Staphylinidae being the most frequently recorded among the families, and Necrobia rufipes (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) being the most frequently recorded species. In addition, a brief introduction of the cadaver-related beetles of each family is given, and research on the species identification of the immature stages, age estimation of the immature stages, and estimation of the arrival time of sarcosaprophagous beetles are discussed and prospected. This work will aid in the increased use of sarcosaprophagous beetles in forensic science practice in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipeng Shao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Siqi Liu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Liangliang Li
- Key Laboratory of Evidence Identification in Universities of Shandong Province, Shandong University of Political Science and Law, Jiefang East Road, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Gengwang Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Yingna Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
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Büchner G, Hothorn T, Feldhaar H, von Hoermann C, Lackner T, Rietz J, Schlüter J, Mitesser O, Benbow ME, Heurich M, Müller J. Ecological drivers of carrion beetle (Staphylinidae: Silphinae) diversity on small to large mammals. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70203. [PMID: 39224157 PMCID: PMC11366687 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Silphinae (Staphylinidae; carrion beetles) are important contributors to the efficient decomposition and recycling of carrion necromass. Their community composition is important for the provision of this ecosystem function and can be affected by abiotic and biotic factors. However, investigations are lacking on the effects of carrion characteristics on Silphinae diversity. Carrion body mass may affect Silphinae diversity following the more individuals hypothesis (MIH). The MIH predicts a higher number of species at larger carrion because higher numbers of individuals can be supported on the resource patch. Additionally, biotic factors like carrion species identity or decomposition stage, and the abiotic factors elevation, season and temperature could affect Silphinae diversity. To test the hypotheses, we collected Silphinae throughout the decomposition of 100 carcasses representing 10 mammal species ranging from 0.04 to 124 kg. Experimental carcasses were exposed in a mountain forest landscape in Germany during spring and summer of 2021. We analysed Silphinae diversity using recently developed transformation models that considered the difficult data distribution we obtained. We found no consistent effect of carrion body mass on Silphinae species richness and, therefore, rejected the MIH. Carrion decomposition stage, in contrast, strongly influenced Silphinae diversity. Abundance and species richness increased with the decomposition process. Silphinae abundance increased with temperature and decreased with elevation. Furthermore, Silphinae abundance was lower in summer compared to spring, likely due to increased co-occurrence and competition with dipteran larvae in summer. Neither carrion species identity nor any abiotic factor affected Silphinae species richness following a pattern consistent throughout the seasons. Our approach combining a broad study design with an improved method for data analysis, transformation models, revealed new insights into mechanisms driving carrion beetle diversity during carrion decomposition. Overall, our study illustrates the complexity and multifactorial nature of biotic and abiotic factors affecting diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwen Büchner
- Population Ecology, Animal Ecology I, Bayreuther Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth SciencesUniversity of BayreuthBayreuthGermany
| | - Torsten Hothorn
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention InstituteUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Heike Feldhaar
- Population Ecology, Animal Ecology I, Bayreuther Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth SciencesUniversity of BayreuthBayreuthGermany
| | - Christian von Hoermann
- Field Station FabrikschleichachJulius‐Maximilians‐University WuerzburgRauhenebrachGermany
- Conservation and ResearchBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
| | - Tomáš Lackner
- Department of Environmental Systems ScienceETH ZürichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Janine Rietz
- National Park Monitoring and Animal ManagementBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
| | - Jens Schlüter
- Conservation and ResearchBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
| | - Oliver Mitesser
- Field Station FabrikschleichachJulius‐Maximilians‐University WuerzburgRauhenebrachGermany
| | - M. Eric Benbow
- Department of Entomology, Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | - Marco Heurich
- National Park Monitoring and Animal ManagementBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology, Faculty of Environment and Natural ResourcesAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Institute for Forest and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesEvenstads Vei 80, 2480 Koppang, NO‐34Norway
| | - Jörg Müller
- Field Station FabrikschleichachJulius‐Maximilians‐University WuerzburgRauhenebrachGermany
- Conservation and ResearchBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
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Ito M, Nishigaki A, Hasegawa M. The effect of pioneer carrion beetles on the emission of volatile organic compounds and carrion insect community assembly. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10818. [PMID: 38089893 PMCID: PMC10714124 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms of carrion insect succession have been interpreted separately from interspecific interactions between early and later colonists or from changes in volatile organic compounds perceived by insects resulting from the progression of decomposition. To link these perspectives, we examined through laboratory and field experiments whether the modification of volatile organic compounds by early colonists could be a mechanism of succession. In the laboratory experiment, we used Necrophila japonica (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) as an early colonist and examined its effects on the emissions of important volatile attractants for carrion insects, dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) from carcasses. We collected DMDS and DMTS, using the static headspace method, under the following conditions: (i) rat carcass, (ii) rat carcass with artificial damage to the abdomen, (iii) rat carcass fed on by 10 Ne. japonica individuals, and (iv) 10 Ne. japonica individuals, and analyzed the collected gases using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. After 12 and 30 h, carcasses fed on by Ne. japonica emitted higher concentrations of DMDS and DMTS than in other conditions. In the field experiment, we examined the effects of DMDS and DMTS on the attraction of carrion insects using traps baited with a mixture of DMDS and DMTS, hexane (odors unrelated to carcasses), or an empty microtube. Traps baited with DMDS and DMTS attracted more necrophagous species and individuals than traps not baited with this combination. These results showed that accelerated emissions of DMDS and DMTS from carcasses caused by early colonists may contribute to community assembly during carrion insect succession.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minobu Ito
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of ScienceToho UniversityFunabashiJapan
| | - Atsuko Nishigaki
- Department of Environmental Science, Graduate School of ScienceToho UniversityFunabashiJapan
| | - Masami Hasegawa
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of ScienceToho UniversityFunabashiJapan
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When the red-lined carrion beetle disrupts successional dynamics on large vertebrate carcasses. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 344:111570. [PMID: 36696757 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111570] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
In a field study of insect colonization on domestic pig carcasses, the typical colonization sequence took a different turn midway through decomposition when Necrodes surinamensis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) dramatically increased in abundance on some carcasses. This provided an opportunity to test the prediction that N. surinamensis would aggregate at clumped carcasses but not as much at dispersed carcasses, thus leaving enough resources in less heavily colonized habitat patches to support weaker competitors, as predicted by the aggregation model of coexistence. Larger aggregations of this silphine beetle resulted in the collapse of blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) maggot populations due to intraguild predation, and a decline or exclusion of late-successional insect species. This phenomenon has been reported in a European Necrodes species but it is the first time it is documented with N. surinamensis, a widespread species in North America. Substantial increases in adult and larval populations of N. surinamensis were first documented on clumped carcasses and were not as pronounced on dispersed carcasses. The specifics of N. surinamensis aggregations are discussed with reference to ecological and forensic implications, including the fact that feeding by N. surinamensis larvae makes the remains appear to have been altered by scavengers and decomposing for longer than they have.
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Gruszka J, Matuszewski S. Initial laboratory validation of temperature development models for Necrodes littoralis L. (Staphylinidae: Silphinae). Int J Legal Med 2023; 137:903-911. [PMID: 36811676 PMCID: PMC10085910 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-02969-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Development models of necrophagous insects are applied in forensic entomology for post-mortem interval estimation. Such estimates may be used as scientific evidence in legal investigations. For this reason, it is important that the models are valid and that the expert witness is aware of their limitations. Necrodes littoralis L. (Staphylinidae: Silphinae) is a necrophagous beetle species that frequently colonizes human cadavers. Temperature models of development for the Central European population of these beetles were recently published. In this article, we present results of the laboratory validation study for these models. Errors of beetle age estimation differed significantly between the models. Thermal summation models yielded the most accurate estimates, and the isomegalen diagram least accurate estimates. Errors of the beetle age estimation varied across beetle developmental stages and rearing temperatures. In general, most development models of N. littoralis were satisfactorily accurate in estimating beetle age under laboratory conditions; therefore, the study provides initial evidence to support their validity in forensic cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Gruszka
- Laboratory of Criminalistics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Św. Marcin 90, 61-809, Poznań, Poland. .,Center for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, 61-614, Poznań, Poland. .,Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Szymon Matuszewski
- Laboratory of Criminalistics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Św. Marcin 90, 61-809, Poznań, Poland.,Center for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
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Brownlow L, Young S, Fernández-Grandon M, Hopkins RJ. Case closed - Wrappings and encasement delays and reduces fly presence on body parts. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 342:111542. [PMID: 36566613 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Homicide, particularly where a body has been concealed, is uniquely challenging for investigators to estimate the time of occurrence due to the methods employed by perpetrators to hide the body or its constituent parts from detection. The regularity of necrophagous insect lifecycles to determine minimum post-mortem interval (minPMI) is widely employed but remains an unreliable technique if used without a clear understanding of the factors that affect insect access and oviposition behaviour to concealed remains. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of wrapping body parts on fly colonisation and implications for minPMI calculations. Field studies were carried out using four treatments of pork (as surrogate body parts), in five replicates, one unwrapped, the other three wrapped in either a black plastic sack, a small-zipped wash bag (to simulate a suitcase), or a plastic sack further placed in a wash bag. Over a 48-h period all the methods of wrapping significantly disrupted the host-finding process of blowflies to dismembered carcasses, with a delay of initial contact and oviposition of 30+h (dependant on wrapping) and even more in wet conditions (48+ h). Egg numbers were also reduced by as much as 99.1% on wrapped samples compared to unwrapped. These new findings highlight the importance of applying adjustments to minPMI calculations when encountering wrapped remains. Advances in the accuracy of minPMI calculations will prevent the waste of valuable police time and resources and better focus the search for witnesses and suspects in homicide investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Brownlow
- School of Science, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich, Medway, Central Ave. Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK.
| | - Stephen Young
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Medway, Central Ave. Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Mandela Fernández-Grandon
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Medway, Central Ave. Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Richard J Hopkins
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Medway, Central Ave. Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
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Schwegmann S, Binder N, von Hoermann C, Bhardwaj M, Storch I. Evisceration residues from hunted roe deer as a resource for necrophagous insect fauna in the Black Forest, Germany: a preliminary study. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wlb3.01055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolas Binder
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Christian von Hoermann
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Dept of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park Grafenau Germany
| | - Manisha Bhardwaj
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Ilse Storch
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
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Dawson BM, Wallman JF, Evans MJ, Butterworth NJ, Barton PS. Priority effects and density promote coexistence between the facultative predator Chrysomya rufifacies and its competitor Calliphora stygia. Oecologia 2022; 199:181-191. [PMID: 35501402 PMCID: PMC9119899 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05175-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Highly competitive ephemeral resources like carrion tend to support much greater diversity relative to longer-lived resources. The coexistence of diverse communities on short-lived carrion is a delicate balance, maintained by several processes including competition. Despite this balance, few studies have investigated the effect of competition on carrion, limiting our understanding of how competition drives coexistence. We investigated how priority effects and larval density influence coexistence between two blowfly species, the facultative predator Chrysomya rufifacies and its competitor Calliphora stygia, which occupy broadly similar niches but differ in their ecological strategies for exploiting carrion. We examined how adult oviposition, larval survival, developmental duration, and adult fitness were affected by the presence of differently aged heterospecific larval masses, and how these measures varied under three larval densities. We found C. rufifacies larval survival was lowest in conspecific masses with low larval densities. In heterospecific masses, survival increased, particularly at high larval density, with priority effects having minimal effect, suggesting a dependency on collective exodigestion. For C. stygia, we found survival to be constant across larval densities in a conspecific mass. In heterospecific masses, survival decreased drastically when C. rufifacies arrived first, regardless of larval density, suggesting C. stygia is temporally constrained to avoid competition with C. rufifacies. Neither species appeared to completely outcompete the other, as they were either constrained by density requirements (C. rufifacies) or priority effects (C. stygia). Our results provide new mechanistic insights into the ecological processes allowing for coexistence on a competitively intense, ephemeral resource such as carrion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake M Dawson
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
| | - James F Wallman
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Maldwyn J Evans
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nathan J Butterworth
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip S Barton
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC, Australia
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