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Shang J, Xu W, Huang X, Zhang D, Yan L, Pape T. Comparative Mitogenomics of Flesh Flies: Implications for Phylogeny. Insects 2022; 13:insects13080718. [PMID: 36005343 PMCID: PMC9408989 DOI: 10.3390/insects13080718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) represent a rapid radiation belonging to the Calyptratae. With more than 3000 known species, they are extraordinarily diverse in terms of their breeding habits and are therefore of particular importance in human and veterinary medicine, forensics, and ecology. To better comprehend the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary characteristics of the Sarcophagidae, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of five species of flesh flies and performed mitogenomic comparisons amongst the three subfamilies. The mitochondrial genomes match the hypothetical condition of the insect ancestor in terms of gene content and gene arrangement. The evolutionary rates of the subfamilies of Sarcophagidae differ significantly, with Miltogramminae exhibiting a higher rate than the other two subfamilies. The monophyly of the Sarcophagidae and each subfamily is strongly supported by phylogenetic analysis, with the subfamily-level relationship inferred as (Sarcophaginae, (Miltogramminae, Paramacronychiinae)). This study suggests that phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genomes may not be appropriate for rapidly evolving groups such as Miltogramminae and that the third-codon positions could play a considerable role in reconstructing the phylogeny of Sarcophagidae. The protein-coding genes ND2 and ND6 have the potential to be employed as DNA markers for species identification and delimitation in flesh flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Shang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wentian Xu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaofang Huang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence: (D.Z.); (L.Y.)
| | - Liping Yan
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence: (D.Z.); (L.Y.)
| | - Thomas Pape
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Xu W, Liu G, Wang Q, Yan L, Liu X, Li X, Pape T, Zhang D. Ultrastructure of Antennal Sensory Organs in Nine Flesh Flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae): New Insight into the Definition of Family Sarcophagidae. Insects 2022; 13:insects13070602. [PMID: 35886778 PMCID: PMC9316071 DOI: 10.3390/insects13070602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The antennal sensilla of species in all three subfamilies of Sarcophagidae are studied for the first time via scanning electron microscopy. The morphology, density, and distribution of each type are described for each species. A total of eight types of antennal sensilla (chaetic sensilla, setiferous plaques, pedicellar buttons, trichoid sensilla, basiconic sensilla, coeloconic sensilla, clavate sensilla, bottle-shaped sensilla) and sensory pits are found in both sexes. The existence of bottle-shaped sensilla in the sensory pits in all three subfamilies of the sarcophagid species suggests a potential synapomorphy of sarcophagids and a new morphological diagnosis character of the family Sarcophagidae. Abstract The antennae are the main olfactory organ of flies, playing key roles in their survival and the success of all life stages. Antennal ultrastructural morphology has been well described in the representative species of most calyptrate families, yet only a few studies have focused on Sarcophagidae species, those with ecological and medical relevance. Antennal morphology and the types, shapes, distribution, and density of the antennal sensilla of nine Sarcophagidae species are studied in detail with scanning electron microscopy, including Miltogramminae: Metopia campestris (Fallén) and Mesomelena mesomelaena (Loew), Paramacronychiinae: Agria mihalyii (Rohdendorf & Verves), Wohlfahrtia bella (Macquart), and W. magnifica (Schiner); Sarcophaginae: Sarcophaga (Parasarcophaga) albiceps Meigen, S. (Bercaea) africa (Wiedemann), S. (Boettcherisca) peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy), and S. (Liosarcophaga) portschinskyi (Rohdendorf), covering all three subfamilies of this family. The morphology of the three segments of the antennae has been described. The scape has only one type of chaetic sensilla, while three subtypes of chaetic sensilla were detected on the pedicel. The postpedicel has four types of sensilla: trichoid sensilla, coeloconic sensilla, clavate sensilla, and three subtypes of basiconic sensilla. Bottle-shaped sensilla were observed in sensory pits on the postpedicel in all nine species. These sensilla have not been discovered in other calyptrate species, suggesting that they are a potential sarcophagid synapomorphy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentian Xu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road 35, Beijing 100083, China; (W.X.); (G.L.); (L.Y.); (X.L.)
| | - Genting Liu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road 35, Beijing 100083, China; (W.X.); (G.L.); (L.Y.); (X.L.)
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Qike Wang
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Liping Yan
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road 35, Beijing 100083, China; (W.X.); (G.L.); (L.Y.); (X.L.)
| | - Xianhui Liu
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Xinyu Li
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road 35, Beijing 100083, China; (W.X.); (G.L.); (L.Y.); (X.L.)
| | - Thomas Pape
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Science Faculty, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Dong Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road 35, Beijing 100083, China; (W.X.); (G.L.); (L.Y.); (X.L.)
- Correspondence:
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Rai JK, Pickles BJ, Perotti MA. The impact of the decomposition process of shallow graves on soil mite abundance. J Forensic Sci 2021; 67:605-618. [PMID: 34651318 PMCID: PMC9293349 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Burial of a cadaver results in a slower decomposition rate, due to more stable below‐ground temperatures and restricted access to necrophagous insects. In such circumstances, analysis of the soil mesofauna, with emphasis on mites (Acari) may be more valuable in time‐of‐death estimations. The production of volatile organic compounds of cadaveric decay results in changes, especially in the soil pH, which in turn would affect the abundance and diversity of the associated mites. In general, the effects of decomposition and the consequently altered pH levels on the abundance of mites in shallow graves, as well as the effects of fluctuating above‐ground environmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation) remain unknown. Here, we found that the decay of three pig cadavers buried in shallow graves (<30 cm below) caused a significant increase in the soil pH throughout decomposition, from neutral to alkaline. Cadaver decay attracted an abundance of mites: with 300 mites collected from the three pig cadavers compared to 129 from the control soil samples at the same depth. Mites rapidly became more abundant in cadaver‐associated soils than in control soils after the fresh stage. Increasing soil pH had a positive impact on the abundance of mites in graves and there was a significant interaction between cadaver body temperature and soil pH. Above‐ground fluctuations in temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation were found to have no significant direct effect on mite abundance in grave or control soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jas K Rai
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Section, School of Biological Sciences, Health and Life Sciences Building, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Brian J Pickles
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Section, School of Biological Sciences, Health and Life Sciences Building, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - M Alejandra Perotti
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Section, School of Biological Sciences, Health and Life Sciences Building, University of Reading, Reading, UK
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Lutz L, Zehner R, Verhoff MA, Bratzke H, Amendt J. It is all about the insects: a retrospective on 20 years of forensic entomology highlights the importance of insects in legal investigations. Int J Legal Med 2021; 135:2637-2651. [PMID: 34591184 PMCID: PMC8523412 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02628-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This study highlights the importance of insect evidence by evaluating 949 insect-associated cases, including 139 entomological reports, from 2001 to 2019 at the Institute of Legal Medicine Frankfurt/Germany. With a high number of cases in the summer months and a low number in the colder season, 78.5% of the bodies were found indoors, regardless of year or month. In more than 80% of the cases, where PMI information was available (n = 704), the presumed PMI ranged from 1 to 21 days, a period during which entomological evidence can provide a day-specific estimate of PMImin. In cases where insects have been identified to species level (n = 279), most bodies were infested by one or two species with a maximum of 10 different species. Overall, a total of 55 insect species were found. Information on biology, activity and distribution of the most abundant taxa is given and applied for 5 case histories estimating different PMImins of up to over 6 months. Despite proved importance and scientific development of forensic entomology, insects are still rarely considered as a tool in forensic case work. The main reasons are a lack of awareness and (too) late involvement of a forensic entomologist. Our work shows that forensic entomology is an independent discipline that requires specialist expertise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Lutz
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Richard Zehner
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marcel A Verhoff
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hansjürgen Bratzke
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jens Amendt
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Yan L, Buenaventura E, Pape T, Narayanan Kutty S, Bayless KM, Zhang D. A phylotranscriptomic framework for flesh fly evolution (Diptera, Calyptratae, Sarcophagidae). Cladistics 2021; 37:540-558. [PMID: 34570937 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The Sarcophagidae (flesh flies) comprise a large and widely distributed radiation within the Calyptratae (Diptera). Larval feeding habits are ecologically diverse and include sarcosaprophagy, coprophagy, herbivory, invertebrate and vertebrate predation, and kleptoparasitism. To elucidate the geographic origin and evolution of flesh fly life-history, we inferred a backbone phylogeny based on transcriptomic data from 26 sarcophagid species covering all three subfamilies plus 15 outgroups. The phylogeny was inferred using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods based on a series of supermatrices, one set with overall information content improved by MARE (2290 loci), one set with 100% gene coverage for all included species (587 loci), and the last set including mitochondrial and nuclear genes (589 loci) and additional taxa. In order to obtain a more detailed hypothesis, we utilized the supertree approach to combine results from the present study with previously published hypotheses. This resulted supertree covers 84 of the one hundred currently recognized sarcophagid genera and formed the basis for the ancestral state reconstructions. The monophyletic Sarcophagidae is well-supported as sister to {Mystacinobiidae + Oestridae}, and relationships at the subfamily level are inferred as {Sarcophaginae, (Paramacronychiinae + Miltogramminae)}. The Sarcophagidae and each subfamily originated in the Americas, with Sarcophaginae diversifying mainly in the Neotropics, whereas the major radiation of both Miltogramminae and Paramacronychiinae occurred in the Palaearctic. Sarcosaprophagy is reconstructed as the ancestral larval feeding habit of the family Sarcophagidae and each subfamily. The ancestral sarcophagid larva probably utilized dead invertebrates as food, and the food spectrum expanded together with the diversification of breeding strategies. Particularly, kleptoparasitism in Miltogramminae is derived from sarcosaprophagy and may be seen as having derived from the breeding biology of 'lower' miltogrammines, the larvae of which feed on buried vertebrate carrion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Yan
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Eliana Buenaventura
- Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity, Berlin, 10115, Germany
| | - Thomas Pape
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Sujatha Narayanan Kutty
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Dr 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227, Singapore
| | - Keith M Bayless
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO National Research Collections Australia (NRCA), Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.,Department of Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
| | - Dong Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
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Al-Mekhlafi FA. Decomposition process for buried rat ( Rattus norvegicus, Berkenhout 1769) carcasses in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia: A preliminary study. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:3745-50. [PMID: 34220227 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.03.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The present report outlines the initial observations from an ongoing study examining the decomposition rate of buried rat (Rattus norvegicus, Berkenhout 1769) carcasses in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Eight rat carcasses were buried in separate holes at depths of 20 and 40 cm (four holes per depth) to allow natural decomposition and examined at 10-day intervals up to 40 days. During the study period, environmental factors such as humidity, soil temperature, and air temperature were monitored at each depth on a daily basis. At the end of each burial period, one carcass from each depth was exhumed and the degree of decay and presence of insect activity were examined. The results showed that burial depth and temperature were major factors affecting the decomposition rate, whereas no insect activity was observed. The findings of this study can be used to more accurately estimate the time since burial of carcasses.
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Bonacci T, Mendicino F, Bonelli D, Carlomagno F, Curia G, Scapoli C, Pezzi M. Investigations on Arthropods Associated with Decay Stages of Buried Animals in Italy. Insects 2021; 12:311. [PMID: 33915684 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The burial of corpses may interfere with the succession of sarcosaprophagous fauna and forensic evaluation of post-mortem interval. For the first time in Italy, an experimental study was conducted on arthropods associated with buried pig carcasses in a rural area near Cosenza (Southern Italy). One carcass was left above the ground and five were buried: one of the buried ones was periodically exhumed to evaluate the effects of disturbance on decay processes and on arthropod fauna, and the other four were exhumed only once at given time intervals. The results revealed differences in taxa and colonization of arthropod fauna in the above ground and periodically exhumed carcasses. No arthropod colonization was detected in the carcasses exhumed only once, showing that a burial at about 25 cm depth could be sufficient to prevent colonization by sarcosaprophagous taxa. Abstract Burial could be used by criminals to conceal the bodies of victims, interfering with the succession of sarcosaprophagous fauna and with the evaluation of post-mortem interval. In Italy, no experimental investigation on arthropods associated with buried remains has been conducted to date. A first experimental study on arthropods associated with buried carcasses was carried out in a rural area of Arcavacata di Rende (Cosenza), Southern Italy, from November 2017 to May 2018. Six pig carcasses (Susscrofa Linnaeus) were used, five of which were buried in 60-cm deep pits, leaving about 25-cm of soil above each carcass, and one was left above ground. One of the buried carcasses was periodically exhumed to evaluate the effects of disturbance on decay processes and on arthropod fauna. The other four carcasses were exhumed only once, respectively after 43, 82, 133, and 171 days. As expected, the decay rate was different among carcasses. Differences in taxa and colonization of arthropod fauna were also detected in the above ground and periodically exhumed carcasses. In carcasses exhumed only once, no arthropod colonization was detected. The results showed that a burial at about 25 cm depth could be sufficient to prevent colonization by sarcosaprophagous taxa and these data could be relevant in forensic cases involving buried corpses.
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Lutz L, Moreau G, Czuprynski S, Bernhardt V, Amendt J. An empirical comparison of decomposition and fly colonisation of concealed carcasses in the Old and New World. Int J Legal Med 2019; 133:1593-602. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-019-02089-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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9
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Iancu L, Junkins EN, Necula-Petrareanu G, Purcarea C. Characterizing forensically important insect and microbial community colonization patterns in buried remains. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15513. [PMID: 30341329 PMCID: PMC6195615 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33794-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During violent criminal actions in which the perpetrator disposes of the victim's remains by burial, the analysis of insects and bacterial colonization patterns could be necessary for postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. Our research aimed to assess the decomposition process of buried rat carcasses from shallow graves (40 cm), the diversity and dynamics of insects and bacteria throughout the decomposition stages, and the environmental parameters' influence on these variations. The results provide further insight on decomposition in soil and contribute to a broader understanding of the factors involved in decomposition by qualitatively and quantitatively analysing the decomposer community (bacteria and insects). Additionally, two bacterial taxa, Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium paraputrificum that were investigated for the first time as PMI indicators using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) showed differential abundance over time, promising data for PMI estimation. The current study on the decomposition of buried rat carcasses in a natural environment will strengthen the current knowledge on decomposed remains from shallow graves and represents an effort to quantify insect and bacterial taxa as PMI estimators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Iancu
- Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei, 296, 060031, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Emily N Junkins
- University of Oklahoma, Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019-0390, United States of America
| | | | - Cristina Purcarea
- Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei, 296, 060031, Bucharest, Romania
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Xu WT, Zhang D, Pape T. Biology of Eumacronychia Townsend, with a redescription of E.persolla Reinhard, 1965 (Diptera, Sarcophagidae). Zookeys 2018:55-65. [PMID: 30275726 PMCID: PMC6160793 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.783.28057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The biology of Eumacronychia Townsend is reviewed and Eumacronychiapersolla Reinhard, 1965 is redescribed. The male and female habitus as well as the male terminalia are documented with focus-stacked photographs, and features separating this species from all other species of Eumacronychia are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Tian Xu
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China Beijing Forestry University Beijing China
| | - Dong Zhang
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China Beijing Forestry University Beijing China
| | - Thomas Pape
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark niversity of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
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Ren L, Shang Y, Chen W, Meng F, Cai J, Zhu G, Chen L, Wang Y, Deng J, Guo Y. A brief review of forensically important flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Forensic Sci Res 2018; 3:16-26. [PMID: 30483648 PMCID: PMC6197121 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2018.1432099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Forensic entomology could provide valuable data for the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) estimation and other relevant information, such as causes and circumstances of death. Some representatives of flesh flies are one of the dominant necrophagous insects during early stages of decomposition, demonstrating unique biological characteristics compared with other necrophagous flies. Moreover, they lead to global health concerns as carriers of various pathogenic micro-organisms, and dominantly result in the traumatic myiasis. Thus, sarcophagid flies are considered important in decomposition processes for PMImin estimation. However, the utility of sarcophagid flies has been seriously hampered by limited ecological, biological and taxonomic knowledge of them. The aim of this paper is to provide a brief review on the species, distribution and biological habit of forensically important sarcophagid flies. In addition, the relation between traumatic myiasis and flesh flies, molecular identification methods and developmental pattern of flesh flies are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lipin Ren
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yanjie Shang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fanming Meng
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jifeng Cai
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guanghui Zhu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Lushi Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Guizhou Police Officer Vocational College, Guiyang, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jianqiang Deng
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Yadong Guo
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
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12
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Charabidze D, Gosselin M, Hedouin V. Use of necrophagous insects as evidence of cadaver relocation: myth or reality? PeerJ 2017; 5:e3506. [PMID: 28785513 PMCID: PMC5543926 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of insects as indicators of post-mortem displacement is discussed in many texts, courses and TV shows, and several studies addressing this issue have been published. Although the concept is widely cited, it is poorly understood, and only a few forensic cases have successfully applied such a method. The use of necrophagous insects as evidence of cadaver relocation actually involves a wide range of biological aspects. Distribution, microhabitat, phenology, behavioral ecology, and molecular analysis are among the research areas associated with this topic. This article provides the first review of the current knowledge and addresses the potential and limitations of different methods to evaluate their applicability. This work reveals numerous weaknesses and erroneous beliefs as well as many possibilities and research opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Charabidze
- CHU Lille, EA 7367 UTML - Unite de Taphonomie Medico-Legale, Univ Lille, Lille, France
| | - Matthias Gosselin
- Research Institute of Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, UMONS - Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Valéry Hedouin
- CHU Lille, EA 7367 UTML - Unite de Taphonomie Medico-Legale, Univ Lille, Lille, France
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Grzywacz A, Hall MJ, Pape T, Szpila K. Muscidae (Diptera) of forensic importance-an identification key to third instar larvae of the western Palaearctic region and a catalogue of the muscid carrion community. Int J Legal Med 2017; 131:855-66. [PMID: 27924407 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-016-1495-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Muscidae is one of the main dipteran families recognized as important for medico-legal purposes. Although an association of adult flies with decomposing human and animal bodies is documented for about 200 taxa worldwide, cadavers and carrion represents a breeding habitat for considerably fewer species. Species that do colonize dead human bodies can do so under diverse environmental conditions and, under certain circumstances, Muscidae may be the only colonizers of a body. Because of difficulties in identification, many studies have identified immature and/or adult muscids only to the genus or family level. This lack of detailed species-level identifications hinders detailed investigation of their medico-legal usefulness in carrion succession-oriented experiments. Identification to species level of third instars of Muscidae of forensic importance and the utility of larval morphological characters for taxonomic purposes were subjected to an in-depth revision. A combination of characters allowing for the discrimination of third instar muscids from other forensically important dipterans is proposed. An identification key for third instar larvae, which covers the full set of cadaver-colonising species of Muscidae from the western Palaearctic (Europe, North Africa, Middle East), is provided. This key will facilitate more detailed and species-specific knowledge of the occurrence of Muscidae in forensic entomology experiments and real cases. The carrion-visiting Muscidae worldwide are catalogued, and those species breeding in animal carrion and dead human bodies are briefly discussed with regard to their forensic importance.
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Niederegger S, Szpila K, Mall G. Muscle attachment site (MAS) patterns for species determination in five species of Sarcophaga (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Parasitol Res 2016; 115:241-7. [PMID: 26391172 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4740-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
To further establish species determination using the muscle attachment site (MAS) pattern method, third instar larvae of five forensically important species of Sarcophaga Meigen were investigated: Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy), Sarcophaga caerulescens Zetterstedt, Sarcophaga melanura Meigen, Sarcophaga albiceps Meigen and Sarcophaga similis Meade. As in the previously investigated Calliphoridae, patterns were found to be species specific. The main feature of the Sarcophaga patterns is the divided central horizontal row of segment four. A genus pattern was established to be used as base for comparison in further species determination.
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Paños-Nicolás Á, Arnaldos MI, García MD, Ubero-Pascal N. Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) tibialis Macquart 1851 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae): micromorphology of preimaginal stages of a fly of medical and veterinary interest. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:4031-50. [PMID: 26227140 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4631-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Sarcophagids are a large family of Diptera, with a worldwide distribution. They are related to decomposing organic matter and are very interesting for health science and in forensic cases since many species produce myiasis and occur in human corpses. This family is considered difficult to study, particularly with regard to their immature stages, to which little attention has been paid. Genus Sarcophaga Meigen, 1826 is composed of species of very similar morphology, making very difficult to distinguish. Knowledge of the immature stages of this genus is important because such stages occupy the greater part of the life cycle, so that establishing a basis for their identification will increase their usefulness in systematic and applied sciences. This contribution presents a detailed study of the morphological features, both external and internal, of the preimaginal stages of Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) tibialis Macquart, 1851, providing a taxonomical context for the correct identification of Liosarcophaga species of forensic interest in the Iberian Peninsula. Both light and scanning electron microscopy were applied. Complete descriptions of every stage are provided and illustrated, and their usefulness for species comparison, taking into account our uneven knowledge of morphologically immature stages of this subgenus, is indicated. Features of the cephalopharyngeal skeleton, such as the shape of the mouth hook and the intermediate and basal sclerites, and external morphology, such as the pattern of spinose band and anterior and posterior spiracles, proved useful for separating species. Finally, tentative identification keys based on light microscopy observation to distinguish S. (L.) tibialis from other species of forensic interest belonging to Liosarcophaga subgenus are proposed for every immature stage.
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Szpila K, Richet R, Pape T. Third instar larvae of flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) of forensic importance--critical review of characters and key for European species. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:2279-89. [PMID: 25823900 PMCID: PMC4430590 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4421-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Necrophagous Sarcophagidae are among the insects most frequently reported from human corpses. The broad forensic application of flesh flies is restricted by the lack of reliable tools for species identification of larval stages and mass breeding of collected flesh fly larvae to the adult stage, and more recently DNA-based methods are usually recommended for precise species identification. To overcome this situation, the following study was implemented: (1) original larval material was obtained of the European flesh flies of confirmed or potential forensic importance; (2) larval morphology was studied and documented using a combination of standard light microscopy, image-stacking stereomicroscopy and SEM; and (3) larval characters used in previously published keys were critically revised. The taxonomic value of the following characters was considered insignificant: (1) differences in level of sclerotisation of particular parts of the cephaloskeleton, (2) level of sclerotisation of the posterior spiracular peritreme and (3) the shape of posterior spiracular slits. A high taxonomic value was noticed for the general shape of anterior spiracles, pattern of arrangement of their lobes, and distribution and shape of spines/warts on the inter-band area of segments. Two character states-long window in the dorsal cornu of cephaloskeleton and deep spiracular cavity on anal division-are not found in the Miltogramminae and therefore cannot be considered as family-specific for the entire Sarcophagidae. As a comprehensive result of our studies, an identification key is presented for the third instar larvae of European flesh flies of forensic importance. The key is user-friendly and requires no dissections of larvae, as soaking the material in methyl salicylate will allow observation of all diagnostic details of the cephaloskeleton. A simple stereomicroscope (magnification about ×50) is sufficient for the observation of all characters presented in the key. This key may be systematically extended by the addition of species present in adjacent geographical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Szpila
- Chair of Ecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Toruń, Poland,
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Szpila K, Mądra A, Jarmusz M, Matuszewski S. Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) colonising large carcasses in Central Europe. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:2341-8. [PMID: 25876045 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4431-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Sarcophagidae are an important element of carrion insect community. Unfortunately, results on larval and adult Sarcophagidae from forensic carrion studies are virtually absent mostly due to the taxonomic problems with species identification of females and larvae. The impact of this taxon on decomposition of large carrion has not been reliably evaluated. During several pig carcass studies in Poland, large body of data on adult and larval Sarcophagidae was collected. We determined (1) assemblages of adult flesh flies visiting pig carrion in various habitats, (2) species of flesh flies which breed in pig carcasses, and (3) temporal distribution of flesh fly larvae during decomposition. Due to species identification of complete material, including larvae, females, and males, it was possible for the first time to reliably answer several questions related to the role of Sarcophagidae in decomposition of large carrion and hence define their forensic importance. Fifteen species of flesh flies were found to visit pig carcasses, with higher diversity and abundance in grasslands as compared to forests. Sex ratio biased towards females was observed only for Sarcophaga argyrostoma, S. caerulescens, S. similis and S. carnaria species group. Gravid females and larvae were collected only in the case of S. argyrostoma, S. caerulescens, S. melanura and S. similis. Sarcophaga caerulescens and S. similis bred regularly in carcasses, while S. argyrostoma was recorded only occasionally. First instar larvae of flesh flies were recorded on carrion earlier or concurrently with first instar larvae of blowflies. Third instar larvae of S. caerulescens were usually observed before the appearance of the third instar blowfly larvae. These results contest the view that flesh flies colonise carcasses later than blowflies. Sarcophaga caerulescens is designated as a good candidate for a broad forensic use in Central European cases.
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