Abstract
BackgroundForensic entomology is an increasing area of research, focuses on the violent crime, and deals with the necrophagous-feeding insects that typically decompose carcasses. The present study aimed to update the baseline data of the decay process and its associated successive waves of necrophagous flies on rabbits placed in an urban city (Cairo, Egypt) in spring season.ResultsSix rabbits divided equally into two groups were used. The first group was killed by asphyxia via hanging and marked as the control (C), while the second group was intoxicated with rodenticide warfarin (WI). The fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay, and skeletal stages of decomposition were observed and defined in all carcasses. Out of 30 insect families collected, 3 families were more common (Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae). Thirteen insect families were collected of which Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae were common. A total of 10,121 individuals (immature and adult stages) of 26 species were collected, of which Chrysomya rufifacies was the most common species on both types of carcasses (14.7%) followed by Musca domestica, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya albiceps, Muscina stabulans, Sarcophaga hertipes, Calliphora vicina, Musca sorbens, Lucilia cuprina, Sarcophaga argyrostoma, and Lucilia sericata (2.0–12.4%). The other 15 species were represented by small numbers (cumulatively 2.9%). Among the collected flies, Scathophaga litorea (Scathophagidae) was reported for the first time as a new report in Egypt. Unexpectedly, significantly more adults and immatures were attracted to WI than to C carcasses (P < 0.05).ConclusionThis study investigated the rabbit carrion dipteran necrophagous fauna as a model which may be of value for medico-legal cases.
Highlights
Forensic entomology is an increasing area of research, focuses on the violent crime, and deals with the necrophagous-feeding insects that typically decompose carcasses
The Medico-legal “Medico-criminal”-forensic entomology focuses on the violent crime and deals with the necrophagous-feeding insects that normally crowd on human remains (Anderson, 1997; Dadour, Cook, & Wirth, 2001; Guppy, 2001)
The study site The study was conducted during the spring (April 24– May 13 of the year 2016) at the roof of the Faculty of Science, in the campus of Ain Shams University, which is located in Abbassyia (Fig. 1), Cairo Governorate, Egypt (30° 3′ 54.03′′ N, 31° 16′ 18.16′′ E)
Summary
Forensic entomology is an increasing area of research, focuses on the violent crime, and deals with the necrophagous-feeding insects that typically decompose carcasses. The Medico-legal “Medico-criminal”-forensic entomology focuses on the violent crime and deals with the necrophagous-feeding insects that normally crowd on human remains (Anderson, 1997; Dadour, Cook, & Wirth, 2001; Guppy, 2001). The main insects that colonize a body to forage, live, or reproduce are from orders Diptera (the flies), Coleoptera (beetles), the ants, and Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) (Benecke, 2001; Goff, 2000) depending on their biological favorites and on the body decomposition state Such insects, together with bacteria, are the drivers of the decay process in the lack of vertebrate. The five stages of body decomposition have been of prime interest for scientists over a long period of time, and each phase is accompanied by a certain grouping of insects
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