title: Ultramorphological characteristics of mature larvae of Nitidula carnaria (Schaller 1783) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a beetle species of forensic importance.
abstract: Beetles of the genus Nitidula Fabricius are forensically important, and their adults and larvae have been found associated with human corpses and animal carcasses in many places of the world. The external morphology of the larvae of Nitidula carnaria (Schaller 1783) was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to provide a description enabling identification of this forensically important species. The ultrastructure of the head was examined, antennae, mandibles, epipharynx, maxillary and labial palpi, spiracles, thorax, legs, and abdominal segments (especially segments 9 and 10); the tegument was also emphasised in this examination. Several types of sensilla were observed on the maxillary and labial palpi, including sensilla basiconica, sensilla styloconica, and perhaps a different type of sensilla digitiformia. In abdominal segment 10, a sensilla campaniformia was observed. Two types of plates were noticed in the abdominal tegument. The characteristics described here can be used to identify this species. No other study of the ultrastructure of Nitidulidae larvae is available for comparison. This is the first report of N. carnaria in carcasses in Chile.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Entomología Forense, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Manuel Montt 056, Temuco, Chile. Electronic address: aortloff@uct.cl.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortloff
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Forense, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal (1876), Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Forense, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal (1876), Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Néstor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Centeno
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microscopía Electrónica, Instituto de Anatomía, Histología y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Isla Teja s/n., Valdivia, Chile.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Entomología Forense, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Manuel Montt 056, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Entomología Forense, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Manuel Montt 056, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olave
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004772:Entomology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D007814:Larva / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D058618:Sensilla / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013552:Swine
keywords: Forensic; Larvae; Morphology; Nitidula carnaria; SEM