title: A review of necrophagous insects colonising human and animal cadavers in south-east Queensland, Australia.
abstract: A review of insects collected from decomposing human remains in south-east Queensland yielded 32 species in three orders (Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera) and 11 families (Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Phoridae, Sepsidae, Chironomidae, Dermestidae, Cleridae, Histeridae, Staphylinidae, Encyrtidae). There were 15 cases where remains were located indoors and five cases where remains were outdoors, in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Coleoptera were strongly associated with outdoors remains, while dipteran species composition was similar in both indoor and outdoor habitats. Some Diptera were only associated with indoors remains, while others were similarly restricted to remains recovered outdoors. Hymenopteran parasitoids were active in both habitats. Comparative collections were made from other vertebrate remains, including road-kill and farmed animals throughout south-east Queensland (Qld) and northern New South Wales (NSW) during the same period.
authors: The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia. Electronic address: juliannefarrell17@gmail.com.
authors: Julianne F
authors: JF
authors: Farrell
authors: Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.zalucki@uq.edu.au.
authors: Andrew E
authors: AE
authors: Whittington
authors: The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia. Electronic address: awhittington@bournemouth.ac.uk.
authors: Myron P
authors: MP
authors: Zalucki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007313:Insecta; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011793:Queensland
keywords: Diptera; Forensic entomology; Human cadavers; Insect colonisation; Post-mortem; Queensland