Involvement of larder beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on human cadavers: a review of 81 forensic cases

Abstract

From 1994 to 2013, French forensic entomology laboratories investigated 1,093 cases. Larder beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) were observed in 81 (7.5%) of these cases. To describe and analyze these 81 cases, eight parameters were used: city, location (indoor or outdoor), decay stage (fresh, decay, or dry), dermestid species and instar (adults and/or larvae), presence of living calliphorid larvae, presence of calliphorid pupae or adults, and presence of other necrophagous species. Eight Dermestidae species were observed: Dermestes frischii (42% of cases), Dermestes undulatus (35.8%), Dermestes peruvianus (12.3%), Dermestes lardarius (9.9%), Dermestes haemorrhoidalis (8.6%), Dermestes maculatus (7.4%), Dermestes bicolor (3.7%), and Dermestes ater (1.2%). Larder beetles primarily developed on human cadavers in outdoor locations in areas with a dry climate and were never reported in oceanic areas (which are characterized by frequent rainfall and high ambient humidity). The number of dermestid species on a single corpse never exceeded three. Typically, one species was found per corpse. Species differed between indoor and outdoor cases, with D. frischii and D. undulatus dominant in outdoor cases, while D. peruvianus dominant in indoor cases. Calliphoridae was found in 88% of the cases, while Hydrotaea and Piophilidae were observed 40% of the time. Regarding Coleoptera, Necrobia spp. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) was observed in 46% of the cases. Lastly, we observed a typical decomposition pattern, with preferential feeding areas on the face, hands, and feet (i.e., the extremities). Pupation chambers on or inside the bones were not observed.

Effects of Different Temperatures on the Development of Dermestes Frischii and Dermestes Undulatus (Coleoptera, Dermestidae): Comparison Between Species

“…Moreover, some species of Dermestidae could be useful in forensic investigations as an aid to assess the PMI. Like reported by Voigt (10), Dermestidae could be responsible for the transformation of the soft part of the body and can linger on the remains as the only colonizer of a skeletonized body; according to Schroeder (11), larder beetles (adults and larvae) are able to skeletonize a human corpse in less than five months in indoor environments, and Charabidze (12), reviewing 81 forensic case, observed a peculiar decomposition pattern with the face, hands, and feet as preferential feeding area for the Dermestidae that can completely disarticulate those areas from the body. He also describes D. frischii and D. undulatus as predominant species in outdoor cases and that if more of two species are involved in the decomposition, the association of D. frischii and D. undulatus is the most common.…”

First Report of Dermestes frischii Kugelann (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on a Human Corpse, South of Iran

“…This species has been reported in various regions of the world on human and animal cadavers‚ as this species was reported on human corpses in France. D. frischii was dominant in this study [7]. This species was reported from animal carcasses in different regions [8,9].…”

A general approach for postmortem interval based on uniformly distributed and interconnected qualitative indicators

“…Moreover, through the inclusion of other species and life stages, this range may be expanded outperforming development-based entomological methods. Stearibia nigriceps (Diptera: Piophilidae), Omosita colon (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), species of Necrobia (Coleoptera: Cleridae) or Dermestes (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), and parasitoids of blowfly pupae, for example, Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), regularly colonize cadavers long after death [7, 26, 41, 49] and, from this point of view, may expand the range until about 3 months after death. Inclusion of eggs, pupae, and tenerals may have similar effect.…”

“…Based on the results of previous pig carcass studies [26, 38–40] and case histories [41–44], a list of definitive insect species was prepared for the rural habitats of Central Europe (Online Resource: ESM 2). The only precondition the species had to meet was regular breeding in large cadavers.…”