A mummified human corpse and associated insects of forensic importance in indoor conditions

Marcin Kadej,Łukasz Szleszkowski,Tomasz Jurek,Agata Thannhäuser

doi:10.1007/s00414-020-02373-2

Marcin Kadej, Łukasz Szleszkowski + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02373-2

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Abstract

We report, for the first time from Poland, the presence of Dermestes haemorrhoidalis (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on a mummified human corpse found in a flat (Lower Silesia province, south-western Poland). Different life stages of D. haemorrhoidalis were gathered from the cadaver, and the signs of activity of these beetles (i.e. frass) were observed. On the basis of these facts, we concluded that the decedent, whose remains were discovered in the flat on 13 December 2018, died no later than the summer of 2018, with a strong probability that death occurred even earlier (2016 or 2017). A case history, autopsy findings, and entomological observations are provided. The presence of larvae of Dermestidae in the empty puparia of flies is reported for the first time. A list of the invertebrate species found in the corpse is provided, compared with available data, and briefly discussed.

Highlights

Among a large number of experimental papers, all highly advanced in both methodical and technical terms are papers describing specific cases relating to observations of insects on human remains accidentally discovered in extremely diverse places and conditions, often after the passage of many months, or even years, after death [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]
Among closely related Dermestes species, it is currently assumed that only a few are regarded as indicators of minPMI
According to Magni et al [25], species of forensic relevance include taxa such as D. maculatus, D. lardarius, D. ater, and D. frischii. Missing from this list is D. haemorrhoidalis; due to its close kinship with the aforementioned species, it can be assumed that this species has a similar significance for forensic entomology

Summary

Introduction

Among a large number of experimental papers, all highly advanced in both methodical and technical terms are papers describing specific cases relating to observations of insects on human remains accidentally discovered in extremely diverse places and conditions (natural vs anthropogenic; outdoors vs indoors), often after the passage of many months, or even years, after death [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. We discuss our other entomological findings and compare them with available data

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