Journal
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
Volume 226, Issue 1-3, Pages 41-45Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.11.019
Keywords
Forensic entomology; Coleoptera; Deltochilum verruciferum; Necrobia rufipes; Caatinga; Homicide
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Funding
- CNPq (Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil)
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Data on the ecology and bionomics of necrophagous beetles are scarce in tropical countries despite their relevance in forensic investigations. We performed a survey on the diversity and temporal pattern of colonization of beetles on pig carcasses in a fragment of dry forest in northeastern Brazil. We collected 1550 adults of diverse feeding habits from 12 families, of which 96% had necrophagous and/or copronecrophagous habits and belonged to four families: Dermestidae, Scarabaeidae, Cleridae and Trogidae. Three species, Dermestes maculatus, Necrobia rufipes and Omorgus suberosus are reported for the first time with an expanded geographical distribution that includes the semi-arid region in Brazil. Adult beetles were collected as early as 24 h after death. One endemic species, Deltochilum verruciferum, stood out in terms of numerical dominance and temporal occurrence during different stages of decomposition. Its intimate association with carrion emphasizes their potential role in forensic entomology in the region. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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