Associational Patterns of Scavenger Beetles to Decomposition Stages

Abstract

Beetles associated with carrion play an important role in recycling organic matter in an ecosystem. Four experiments on decomposition, one per season, were conducted in a semirural area in Bahía Blanca, Argentina. Melyridae are reported for the first time of forensic interest. Apart from adults and larvae of Scarabaeidae, thirteen species and two genera of other coleopteran families are new forensic records in Argentina. Diversity, abundance, and species composition of beetles showed differences between stages and seasons. Our results differed from other studies conducted in temperate regions. Four guilds and succession patterns were established in relation to decomposition stages and seasons. Dermestidae (necrophages) predominated in winter during the decomposition process; Staphylinidae (necrophiles) in Fresh and Bloat stages during spring, summer, and autumn; and Histeridae (necrophiles) and Cleridae (omnivores) in the following stages during those seasons. Finally, coleopteran activity, diversity and abundance, and decomposition rate change with biogeoclimatic characteristics, which is of significance in forensics.

Contribution to the knowledge of Saprinus Erichson, 1834 of forensic relevance from Lebanon (Coleoptera, Histeridae)

“… Coleoptera (beetles) have proven to be useful in forensic investigations when fly larvae cannot be obtained or when they left the carcass and only beetles could be sampled ( Zanetti et al 2015 ). When examining the faunal succession of beetles on carcasses, the carrion beetles ( Silphidae ) are the first to be attracted, followed by the rove beetles ( Staphylinidae ) and clown beetles ( Histeridae ) ( Su et al 2013 ).…”

The Effect of Temperature and Laboratory Rearing Conditions on the Development of Dermestes maculatus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

“…More recently, Dermestes maculatus DeGeer has been recognized as a significant component of the insect fauna associated with decomposing remains, both human and animal. These beetles have forensic significance in helping to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) , particularly in cases of advanced decay or skeletonization , in which they could provide a minimum PMI. In sufficient numbers, they have been reported as reducing a human body to a skeleton in only 24 days .…”

Insectos en contextos urbanos: su rol como evidencia en un caso de reuso de objetos del siglo XIX

“…Su llegada es posterior a la de las primeras moscas colonizadoras en términos de una sucesión ecológica que se desarrolla sobre una sustancia en descomposición. Especies de Euspilotus fueron registradas en experiencia a campo en zonas suburbanas y contextos forenses de zonas urbanas de la provincia de Buenos Aires, preferentemente durante primavera, verano y otoño (Zanetti et al 2015).…”