title: Insect succession on remains of human and animals in Shenzhen, China.
abstract: Most forensic entomological succession studies have been carried out using pig or rabbit carcasses; however, there have been few studies on the differences between insect succession patterns on human cadavers and on animal carcasses. In order to clarify the differences between decomposition and insect succession patterns of human cadavers and animal carcasses, one 49.5kg human cadaver, two large pig carcasses (45 and 48kg), two small pig carcasses (23 and 25kg) and two rabbit carcasses (both 1.75kg) were placed in the same field conditions in Shenzhen, China for a comparative study on August, 2013. The results indicated that: (1) The duration from fresh to skeletonization is in order of human cadaver>large pig carcasses>small pig carcasses>rabbit carcasses; (2) insect assemblages (including developmental stages) are more complex on larger carcasses, in order of human cadaver=large pig carcasses>small pig carcasses>rabbit carcasses; (3) the developmental rates of the same forensically important fly species on all carcasses are consistent; (4) all identified species of Calliphoridae can complete development of one generation on human cadaver, and both large and small pig carcasses, while on rabbit carcasses, only a subset of the Calliphoridae species can finish development of one generation; (5) beetles can generate offspring on human cadaver, and both large and small pig carcasses, while they do not generate offspring on rabbit carcasses. This study provides useful comparative data for decomposition and insect succession pattern of human cadaver with animal carcasses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China; Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Criminal Police Branch, Shenzhen Public Security Bureau, Jiefang Road, Shenzhen 518000, China.
authors.forename: Meng-Yun
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Criminal Police Branch, Guangyuan Public Security Bureau, Chaoyang Road, Guangyuan 628000, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China. Electronic address: jfwang@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jiang-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China.
authors.forename: Liang-Liang
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Criminal Police Branch, Shenzhen Public Security Bureau, Jiefang Road, Shenzhen 518000, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China.
authors.forename: Lu-Yang
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000071298:Body Remains; D002681:China; D004772:Entomology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007313:Insecta; D008297:Male; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011817:Rabbits; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Carrion decomposition; Comparative forensic medicine; Forensic entomology; Human cadaver; Insect succession; Postmortem interval