Variation of insect succession in summer on decomposing rabbit carrions treated with aluminum phosphide in Beheira governorate, Egypt

Abstract

The present study aimed to record the arthropod fauna of medico-legal importance in an urban city: El Delengat, Beheira governorate, Egypt, by studying the succession of insects and the duration of the decomposition of rabbit carrions injected with Aluminum phosphide (AlP). In our study the total of twelve male rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus L, each weighing 1,25 kg were used. The experiment was conducted in summer. Three replicate experiments were conducted, for each experiment, 3 rabbits were administered intragastrically dosages of 27.4 mg, 13.7 mg, 54.8 mg of aluminum phosphide by body weight representing LD50, ½ LD50, 2 LD50, respectively. The fourth rabbit was used as a control, injected by saline solution. The recorded entomofauna was denoted in 5 orders, 12 families, and 17 genera and species. Necrophagous arthropods that colonized rabbit carrions were substantially of Diptera and Coleoptera orders. Calliphorid insects was the foremost family that colonizing the different carrions. AlP appeared to delay the decomposition process in ½ LD50 and 2 LD50 carrions. These results are the primary record of the arthropod successive pattern on aluminum phosphide remains, it will provide useful data in any future case studies involving AlP intoxication.