Abstract
Coleoptera are currently considered a fundamental tool to help solve criminal investigations, allowing forensic entomologists to estimate post-mortem intervals and obtain other ecology-related information. Thanatophilus rugosus (Linnaeus, 1758) is an important necrophagous beetle distributed through most of the Palaearctic region, where it is readily found on human bodies and animal carcasses. In this study, the new thermal summation models for all the developmental stages of Thanatophilus rugosus are provided. Beetles were reared at six different constant and ecologically relevant temperatures (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 °C), and their developmental times were measured. Thermal summation constants were calculated for each developmental stage (egg, three larval instars, post-feeding stage, and pupa).
Highlights
Insect specimens found on a carrion during criminal investigations are a valuable piece of evidence when investigating time intervals relevant for the forensic sciences, e.g., Postmortem interval (PMI) and Pre-appearance interval (PAI)[1,2]
The greatest proportion of the T. rugosus development cycle was spent in the Post–feeding (24%) and the pupal (33%) stages, while the shortest time was spent in the L1 and L2 stages (7–8%) in all studied temperatures
The survival rate was above 70% in all the tested temperatures
Summary
Insect specimens found on a carrion during criminal investigations are a valuable piece of evidence when investigating time intervals relevant for the forensic sciences, e.g., Postmortem interval (PMI) and Pre-appearance interval (PAI)[1,2]. Developmental models have been proposed for some of the Thanatophilus species e.g., T. micans (Fabricius, 1794)[5], T. capensis (Wiedemann, 1821)[3] and T. sinuatus (Fabricius, 1775)[12]. Many more have yet to be studied, as this genus is one of the most diverse in the subfamily Silphinae with 24 described members to d ate[4]. Along with other species colonizing carrion, Thanatophilus rugosus (Linneaus, 1758) is frequently found on carcasses during early spring in central E urope[13,14] and throughout most of the year in Southern E urope[15]. Despite the species being extensively collected on carcasses during criminal investigations across Europe, no developmental studies have been published so far. Survival rates among temperatures and developmental stages are evaluated
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