The Abundance of Forensic Insects on Dog and Rabbit Carcasses in Different Habitats and Developmental Stages of Chrysomya albiceps as a Forensic Indicator

Zeariya, Mohammed G. M.; Kabadaia, Mohamad M.

doi:10.21608/eajbse.2019.38885

The Abundance of Forensic Insects on Dog and Rabbit Carcasses in Different Habitats and Developmental Stages of Chrysomya albiceps as a Forensic Indicator

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science (Boys), AL-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/eajbse.2019.38885

Abstract

Eight dog carcasses and eight rabbit carcasses were employed in four seasons. The abundance of insect species collected in dog carcasses placed outdoor during the study period was arranged as follows: Chrysomya albiceps (1679),followed by Musca domestica (1151), Dermestes maculatus (417), Piophila casei (224), Hister sp. (117), Monomorium pharoensis (87), Musca sorbens (81), Necrobia rufipes (69), Sarcophaga carnaria (60), Nasonia vetripennis (59), Calliphora sp. (44), Wohlfahrtia magnifica (42), Megaselia scalaris (34), Chrysomya megacephala (31), Lucilia sericata (29), Vespa orientalis (15), Creophilous maxillosous (14), Stomoxys calcitranas (9), Dolichovespula sp. (9), Cataglyphis bicolor (6), and Phormia regina (3), while the frequency of insect species collected from dog carcasses placed indoor, were arranged as follows: Nasonia vetripennis (571), followed by Chrysomya albiceps (459), Dermestes maculatus (304), Musca sorbens (199), Megaselia scalaris (57), Necrobia rufipes (50), Monomorium pharoensis (40), Hister sp. (32), Musca domestica (31), Sarcophaga carnaria (21), Calliphora sp. (5), Creophilous maxillosous (3), and Wohlfahrtia magnifica (2). On the other hand, the abundance of insect species collected in rabbit carcasses placed outdoor during the study period was arranged as follows: Chrysomya albiceps (645), followed by Musca domestica (511), Piophila casei (238), Hister sp. (149), Dermestes maculatus (123), Monomorium pharoensis (123), Nasonia vetripennis (107), Musca sorbens (45), Sarcophaga carinaria (31), Megaselia scalaris (27), Wohlfahrtia magnifica (26), Lucilia sericata (9), Calliphora sp. (9), Vespa orientalis (6), Creophilous maxillosous (5), Cataglyphus bicolor (5), Chrysomya megacephala (4), Necrobia rufipes (4), and Dolichovespula sp. (2),whilethe frequency of insect species collected from rabbit carcasses placed indoor, were arranged as follows: Nasonia vetripennis (360), followed by Chrysomya albiceps (109), Dermestes maculatus (78), Megaselia scalaris (47), Musca sorbens (29), Musca domestica (21), Monomorium pharoensis (16), Hister sp. (8), Sarcophaga carnaria (6), Calliphora sp. (5), and Cataglyphis bicolor (3), and Cataglyphis bicolor. In order to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI), the life table of Chrysomya albiceps as the first and predominant fly reaches the carcass was studied on dog and rabbit carcasses placed outdoors and indoors. This study aimed to characterize the insect species present on cadavers and to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) by studying the developmental stages of the first fly arrive at the carrion. These data should contribute to the creation of a database of forensic insects in Egypt.

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