Forensic Entomology research has been concentrated in only a few localities of the "Cerrado" vegetation, the Brazilian Savannah. The present study had, as its objective, an examination of the diversity of arthropod fauna associated with the carcasses of Sus scrofa (Linnaeus) in this biome. The study was conducted during the dry and humid periods in two Cerrado vegetation profiles of the State of Minas Gerais. The decaying process was slower and greater quantities of arthropods were collected during the dry period. Insects represented 99% of 161,116 arthropods collected. The majority of these were Diptera (80.2%) and Coleoptera (8.8%). The entomofauna belong to 85 families and at least 212 species. Diptera were represented by 31 families and at least 132 species. Sarcophagidae (Diptera) and Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) were the richest groups. Oxysarcodexia (Sarcophagidae) presented the largest number of attracted species, however none of these species bred in the carcasses. The Coleoptera collected belong to at least 50 species of 21 families. Among these species, Dermestes maculatus and Necrobia rufipes were observed breeding in the carcasses. This study showed species with potential importance for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI), indicative of seasonal and environmental type located.

http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbent/v55n3/aop4511.pdf

Arthropods associated with pig carrion in two vegetation profiles of Cerrado in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Sarcophagidae are an important element of carrion insect community. Unfortunately, results on larval and adult Sarcophagidae from forensic carrion studies are virtually absent mostly due to the taxonomic problems with species identification of females and larvae. The impact of this taxon on decomposition of large carrion has not been reliably evaluated. During several pig carcass studies in Poland, large body of data on adult and larval Sarcophagidae was collected. We determined (1) assemblages of adult flesh flies visiting pig carrion in various habitats, (2) species of flesh flies which breed in pig carcasses, and (3) temporal distribution of flesh fly larvae during decomposition. Due to species identification of complete material, including larvae, females, and males, it was possible for the first time to reliably answer several questions related to the role of Sarcophagidae in decomposition of large carrion and hence define their forensic importance. Fifteen species of flesh flies were found to visit pig carcasses, with higher diversity and abundance in grasslands as compared to forests. Sex ratio biased towards females was observed only for Sarcophaga argyrostoma, S. caerulescens, S. similis and S. carnaria species group. Gravid females and larvae were collected only in the case of S. argyrostoma, S. caerulescens, S. melanura and S. similis. Sarcophaga caerulescens and S. similis bred regularly in carcasses, while S. argyrostoma was recorded only occasionally. First instar larvae of flesh flies were recorded on carrion earlier or concurrently with first instar larvae of blowflies. Third instar larvae of S. caerulescens were usually observed before the appearance of the third instar blowfly larvae. These results contest the view that flesh flies colonise carcasses later than blowflies. Sarcophaga caerulescens is designated as a good candidate for a broad forensic use in Central European cases.

/pdf/flesh-flies-diptera-sarcophagidae-colonising-large-carcasses-4n1ak56rg7.pdf

Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) colonising large carcasses in Central Europe

Estudos de entomologia forense em area de Cerrado ainda sao escassos no Brasil. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a riqueza da artropodofauna associada a carcacas de suinos domesticos em decomposicao e o padrao de sucessao da fauna ao longo desse processo. O estudo foi conduzido em dois perfis de Cerrado – Cerrado senso stricto e Campo sujo – durante dois periodos do ano – seco e umido – em Uberlândia, MG. Insetos representaram 99% dos 161.116 artropodes coletados. Eles eram majoritariamente dipteros (80,2%) e coleopteros (8,8%). A entomofauna pertence a 85 familias e pelo menos 212 especies. Os dipteros foram representados por 31 familias e pelo menos 132 especies, das quais 14 criaram-se nas carcacas. Os Sarcophagidae (Diptera) e Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) foram os grupos mais ricos. Oxysarcodexia (Sarcophagidae) apresentou maior numero de especies atraidas, mas nenhuma de suas especies criou-se nas carcacas. Os coleopteros coletados pertencem a pelo menos 50 especies de 21 familias. Entre elas, Dermestes maculatus e Necrobia rufipes foram observadas criando-se nas carcacas. Este estudo apresenta varias especies potenciais indicadoras de Intervalo Pos Mortem, sazonalidade e do ambiente natural estudado.

Arthropods associated with pig carrion in two vegetation profiles

Uma compilacao de registros das principais especies de moscas encontradas em carcacas e cadaveres na regiao Neotropical, incluindo o substrato, ambiente e distribuicao geografica em que foram coletadas, e apresentada A lista compreende 233 especies, incluidas em oito familias Sarcophagidae (105) foi a familia com maior diversidade de especies, seguida por Muscidae (53) e Calliphoridae (36) Adicionalmente, sao apresentados varios novos registros em carcacas para a Caatinga

Diptera (Insecta) de importância forense da região Neotropical

Necrophagous beetles associated with carcasses in a semi-arid environment in Northeastern Brazil: Implications for forensic entomology

Carrion breeding insects may be of great utility in crimes briefing. Studies on forensic entomology are restricted to few localities in Brazil and very few of them were done in the cerrado vegetation (a type of Savannah) until now. This work aimed to survey the main species of dipterans associated with the decomposition process of Sus scrofa and the insect succession pattern in carcasses in the Cerrado. The study was carried out in the dry and humid season of the year, in two cerrado vegetation profiles in Uberlândia, MG. Two pig carcasses were placed in each vegetation profile and time period of the year. The decomposition process was slower and insects were more abundant in the dry season. Differences in temperature, air humidity and pluvial precipitation seemed to be the main physical factors responsible for the differences in the time of decomposition of the pig carcasses between the two seasons. Fourteen species of dipterans (59,467 specimens) bred in the decomposing carcasses. Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) was the species more abundantly breed in the two periods. The other species that breed in the carcasses were: C. putoria (Wiedemann), Hemilucilia segmentaria(Fabricius), Lucilia eximia(Wiedemann) (Calliphoridae), Peckia (Pattonella) intermutans(Walker), Peckia (Squamatoides) trivitatta(Curran), Sarcodexia lambens(Wiedemann) (Sarcophagidae), Musca domestica(L.), Ophyra aenescens(Wiedemann), Stomoxys calcitransL. (Muscidae), Fannia pusio(Wiedemann), Fannia sp. (Fanniidae), Hermetia illuscens L. (Stratiomyidae) and Phoridae sp. The Cerrado of this region presents many dipterans potential forensic indicators.

/pdf/dipteros-de-interesse-forense-em-dois-perfis-de-vegetacao-de-2v8l6enzh8.pdf

Micaela L. Y. Babata

Papers

Arthropods associated with pig carrion in two vegetation profiles of Cerrado in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Arthropods associated with pig carrion in two vegetation profiles

Dípteros de interesse forense em dois perfis de vegetação de cerrado em Uberlândia, MG