Assemblages of Acari in shallow burials: mites as markers of the burial environment, of the stage of decay and of body-cadaver regions (original) (raw)
Related papers
Investigations on Arthropods Associated with Decay Stages of Buried Animals in Italy
Insects
Burial could be used by criminals to conceal the bodies of victims, interfering with the succession of sarcosaprophagous fauna and with the evaluation of post-mortem interval. In Italy, no experimental investigation on arthropods associated with buried remains has been conducted to date. A first experimental study on arthropods associated with buried carcasses was carried out in a rural area of Arcavacata di Rende (Cosenza), Southern Italy, from November 2017 to May 2018. Six pig carcasses (Susscrofa Linnaeus) were used, five of which were buried in 60-cm deep pits, leaving about 25-cm of soil above each carcass, and one was left above ground. One of the buried carcasses was periodically exhumed to evaluate the effects of disturbance on decay processes and on arthropod fauna. The other four carcasses were exhumed only once, respectively after 43, 82, 133, and 171 days. As expected, the decay rate was different among carcasses. Differences in taxa and colonization of arthropod fauna ...
Suan Sunandha Science and Technology Journal, 2023
Knowledge of successional colonization of cadaver is important in medico-legal studies especially with regards to postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. Paucity of data especially as it relates to juveniles has limited the appropriate application of this knowledge for the benefit of man. To bridge this knowledge gap, juvenile human cadaver was modeled using 2 slaughtered juvenile pigs-Sus scrofa Linn. (≈ 10 kg mean weight) at the study site. One pig was exposed to sunlight while the other shaded under a tree. Both pigs were protected from scavengers and allowed through the decay stages and sampling for adult arthropods continued till the dry-remain stage of decomposition. Data collected were used to compute frequency of occurrence and relative abundance. Paleontological Statistical Tool (Past3) was used to compute diversity indices. Of the 2032 arthropods of 20 species, across 17 families retrieved, the exposed carcass attracted 44.1% comprising 16 species within 15 families while the shaded carcass attracted 14 species within 12 families. Over 50% species similarity on the contrasting carcasses was observed. Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Dermestidae, Histeridae and Formicidae made-up the dominant families sampled. While Musca domestica L. (Muscidae) and Anochetus sp. (Formicidae) were exclusively dominant for the shaded carcass, Crematogaster sp. (Formicidae) was exclusively dominant for the exposed carcass. Both carcasses completed decomposition in 14 days but exhibited a shorter advanced-decay stage for the shaded carcass and shorter dry remain stage for the exposed carcass. We thus conclude that, there was little distinction in the diversity and succession pattern of the arthropods colonizing both carcasses (shaded and exposed).
Proctolaelaps euserratus Karg, 1994 (Acari, Mesostigmata, Melicharidae), exclusivelly known from the Galápagos Islands till now, is newly reported from decaying matter of animal and human decomposition in various countries of Europe (Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom). In consequence of high levels of necrophilia, the species is considered to be ecologically unusual among the other melicharids, which are primary associated with other than necrophilic habitats, such as galleries of subcorticolous beetles, bumble bee nests, flowers, etc. Proctolaelaps euserratus is reviewed, morphologically redescribed (with first diagnostic characters for males), and considered as a new potential marker for later stages of decomposition, namely butyric fermentation and dry decomposition as classified in modern concepts of forensic acarology.
Ephemeral and fluctuant, the fauna associated with a corpse provides a rich diversity of species. Several groups of arthropods are known to visit a carcass of a vertebrate at its various stages of decay; however, forensic investigations have so far been primarily limited to insects, focussing mainly on flies (Diptera) and beetles (Coleoptera) as often the largest and most persistent representatives. These insects might fly, walk or occasionally swim to reach the corpse and sooner or later abandon it in a similar way. Most will build transitional food webs that will lead to a faunal succession of species that will reflect the degree of decay under given environmental conditions.
Succession of Arthropods on White Rat Carcasses in Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria
International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 2020
The forensic information provided by decomposition of small carcasses often goes unnoticed, even in advanced economies, due to frequent neglect. This paper reports the succession pattern of arthropod species that associated with carcasses of white rat, Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout) (Rodentia: Muridae), in Ile-Ife, southwestern Nigeria. Four bushy sites were chosen for the study and nine rat carcasses were placed at each site once a season for two seasons. The carcasses were monitored daily until the process of decay was over. The visiting and colonizing invertebrates were collected daily and identified. Immatures were also collected and reared in the laboratory till adult emergence for easy identification. The carcasses went through five stages of decay and the arthropods arrived in the order Diptera (early fresh stage), Hymenoptera (late fresh stage), Coleoptera and Dermaptera (active decay stage), and Araneae and Oribatida (advanced decay stage). Dipteran flies were the first arthropods to interact with the remains but ants were the only arthropods that associated with all the five stages of decay. A total of 9828 arthropods (4415 adults and 5413 immatures) belonging to six orders in two classes of the phylum were collected in the study. The proportion of faunal abundance was Diptera (75.10%), Hymenoptera (22.90%), Coleoptera (1.80%), Dermaptera (0.10%), Oribatida (0.08%) and Araneae (0.02%). Rate of decay was faster and faunal population was higher on carcasses during the dry season compared to the wet. Faunal population was also higher on carcasses placed in close proximity to the Zoological garden. The implications of these results on accuracy of estimated postmortem interval (PMI) and applicability in law were discussed.
Phoretic mites associated with animal and human decomposition
Experimental and Applied Acarology, 2009
Phoretic mites are likely the most abundant arthropods found on carcases and corpses. They outnumber their scavenger carriers in both number and diversity. Many phoretic mites travel on scavenger insects and are highly specific; they will arrive on a particular species of host and no other. Because of this, they may be useful as trace indicators of their carriers even when their carriers are absent. Phoretic mites can be valuable markers of time. They are usually found in a specialised transitional transport or dispersal stage, often moulting and transforming to adults shortly after arrival on a carcase or corpse. Many are characterised by faster development and generation cycles than their carriers. Humans are normally unaware, but we too carry mites; they are skin mites that are present in our clothes. More than 212 phoretic mite species associated with carcases have been reported in the literature. Among these, mites belonging to the Mesostigmata form the dominant group, represented by 127 species with 25 phoretic mite species belonging to the family Parasitidae and 48 to the Macrochelidae. Most of these mesostigmatids are associated with particular species of flies or carrion beetles, though some are associated with small mammals arriving during the early stages of decomposition. During dry decay, members of the Astigmata are more frequently found; 52 species are phoretic on scavengers, and the majority of these travel on late-arriving scavengers such as hide beetles, skin beetles and moths. Several species of carrion beetles can visit a corpse simultaneously, and each may carry 1–10 species of phoretic mites. An informative diversity of phoretic mites may be found on a decaying carcass at any given time. The composition of the phoretic mite assemblage on a carcass might provide valuable information about the conditions of and time elapsed since death.
Insect Colonisation and the Decomposition Process in Aerated versus Watertight Burial Systems
Insects
In recent years, burial systems have covered increasingly higher costs due to the pollution caused by decomposition products. These products are understood as chemicals and microorganisms in the surrounding soil and groundwater and represent a topical issue. The purpose of this research was to ascertain the extent of decomposition when pig carcasses are buried in two different burial systems (“aerated” vs. “watertight”) and catalogue the arthropods associated with burials at different time-points of removal from niches (after 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months). Thirteen taxa were collected in aerated niches, whereas five were collected in watertight niches. The initial access or exclusion of insect colonisers affected overall functional activity. Two Diptera species, Hydrotaea capensis and Megaselia scalaris, were the most abundant, supporting the hypothesis that insects can colonise carcasses in aerated burial systems. Furthermore, some species of bacteria have been documented as facili...
Annales de la Société entomologique de France (N.S.), 2018
The diversity of arthropods is studied, at family and species level, on a pig carcass during a warm season in an open field in Badghan-Mount Lebanon. Ten orders of arthropods were found associated to the carcass. A total of 1168 specimens of adults Diptera and Coleoptera were collected. Among Diptera, the predator Chrysomya albiceps was dominant on the carcass during the active decay stage and Musca spp. were necrophagous. Within Coleoptera, Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus, 1758), Philonthus concinnus (Gravenhorst, 1802), Aleochara lata Gravenhorst, 1802, and Saprinus sp. were the predator taxa. Dermestes frischii Kugelann, 1792 and Necrobia rufipes (De Geer, 1775) were more present during the advanced decay, together with anthicids. In addition to a list of species visiting the carcass, we carried out a multivariate analysis of principal components to explore the relationships between the pattern of presences of 16 insect families and the four decomposition stages during the first 30 days of the carcass decomposition. The groupings of insects during the four decomposition stages show significant dissimilarities, suggesting that the different stages are characterized by different insect associations, as reported in many other previous studies. Résumé. La succession des communautés d'arthropodes sur une carcasse de porc au Liban : approches à divers niveaux taxonomiques et notes faunistiques. La diversité des arthropodes est étudiée, au rang familial et spécifique, sur une carcasse de porc pendant la saison chaude en milieu naturel, sur le site de Badghan-Mount, au Liban. Dix ordres d'arthropodes ont été trouvés associés à la carcasse. Un total de 1168 spécimens adultes de Diptères et de Coléoptères a été collecté. Parmi les Diptères, le prédateur Chrysomya albiceps était dominant sur la carcasse au stade de décomposition active. Les Musca spp. étaient nécrophages. Parmi les Coléoptères, Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus, 1758), Philonthus concinnus (Gravenhorst, 1802), Aleochara lata Gravenhorst, 1802 et Saprinus sp. étaient prédateurs. Dermestes frischii Kugelann, 1792 et Necrobia rufipes (De Geer, 1775) et les Anthicidae étaient plus présents pendant la décomposition avancée. En complément à la liste des espèces visitant la carcasse, nous avons effectué une analyse multivariée en composantes principales pour explorer les relations entre le patron de présence de 16 familles d'insectes et les quatre stades de décomposition au cours des 30 premiers jours de la décomposition. Les groupements d'insectes montrent des dissimilarités significatives, ce qui suggère que les différents stades sont caractérisés par des associations différentes d'insectes, de façon analogue à ce qui a été rapporté dans plusieurs études antérieures.
Research Square (Research Square), 2023
Forensic entomology is a science that studies insects and other arthropods in relation to forensic investigations. This study aimed to examine the presence of insects on pig and rabbit carcasses buried at two different depths, 100 and 50 cm, respectively, along nine sampling dates to establish an insect succession database on buried cadavers in the north sudanian zone of Burkina Faso. In addition, we investigated whether environmental parameters in uence both the decomposition of buried corpses and the abundance of insects. Nine pigs and nine rabbits were buried at 100 and 50 cm respectively, at two different sites. Carcasses were exhumed after 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112 and 126 days of burial, respectively. Approximately 668 larvae, pupae, cocoons and adults of insects were surveyed on the two substrates during the 2020 and 2021 study periods, divided into 5 main orders, Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Dermaptera and Orthoptera. Accarinae and a few spiders were also inventoried. Succession of insects varied with depth. No signi cant difference in soil temperature (P = 0.9; 0.12) between the 50 and 100 cm depths was observed. However, signi cant differences were observed between the temperatures of depths and ambient air (P = 2.3e-07; 0.00027). Necrophagous insects were more abundant on the pig substrate than the rabbit. Our data provided precious information in terms of assessing the postburial interval. Highlights Insect diversity associated with pig and rabbit carcasses buried at different depths Environmental parameters affected the decomposition of buried corpses and the abundance of forensic relevance in the study area. Succession of insects varied with depth the holes for burial Necrophagous insects were more abundant on the pig substrate than the rabbit. Key points Entomofauna and pig and rabbit carcasses decomposition buried-Environmental parameters-Succession of insects-depth the holes for burial-Burkina Faso.