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Performing quantitative sampling and determining faunistic analyses of dipterans is of fundamental importance in the analysis of ecological behavior, such as population dynamics and diversity, among other factors, for exotic and native species of necrophagous dipterans, so it is important to observe the type of bait used in traps to capture these dipteran species. This work aims to study structural parameters and faunistic indices of the diversity of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae species as well as the abundance and diversity of species attracted to liver in two stages of decomposition: fresh liver and liver at 48 h of putrefaction. A total of 2826 dipterans were collected during the period from May 2021 to February 2022. We observed that liver in decomposition for 48 h was more attractive in the forest and rural environments, while fresh liver showed greater attractiveness in the urban environment; however, no statistical difference was evidenced between the attractiveness in the different environments. The Mesembrinellidae family and the species Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819) were collected mostly from deteriorated liver, while Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) showed no preference for any liver decomposition stage. The Wilcoxon test indicated that there is a significant difference between the preferences for putrefied bait in Mesembrinellidae, while in Calliphoridae, there was no preference for type of bait. The faunistic analysis showed that richness in the forest area was always higher when compared to the urban and rural areas. Laneela nigripes (Guimarães, 1977) and Mesembrinella bellardiana (Aldrich, 1922) were abundant and exclusive in the preserved environment, showing themselves to be good environmental bioindicators.

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The use of recovered DNA ingested by necrophagous or hematophagous insects has increased in forensic sciences, mainly with representatives of flies. However, some beetles are also important for medico-legal forensic entomology because they feed on carcasses until advanced decomposition. This study evaluated whether the Neotropical carrion beetle Oxelytrum discicolle (Silphidae) has the potential for the detection of exogenous DNA into the gut. The whole gut or the gut contents were extracted from O. discicolle larvae and adult previously fed on pig carcass. The pig DNA recovery rate was 33.3% in larvae and 25% in adults, indicating that the carrion beetle's gut may be useful for DNA identification of ingested food. Samples with the whole gut or only gut contents showed the same DNA recovery rate. Exogenous DNA from the whole gut was recovered from samples stored in ethanol at -20 ºC for 11 days, showing that samples of O. discicolle can be stored in the forensic laboratory without loss in DNA recovery rate.

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Calliphoridae (Insecta, Diptera), popularly known as blow flies or carrion flies, as most are necrophagous comprises one of the most relevant families of insects on forensics. Currently, more than 1500 blow fly species are known, the majority of which can be found in the Old World. In the Neotropics, it is estimated that there are approximately 20 species of forensic importance. In view of the taxonomic impediment associated with the identification of immatures, in this study, we present an interactive identification key for third instar larvae of necrophagous Calliphoridae species. This key includes 12 Neotropical blow fly species of forensic importance, more than 70 pictures, schemes, and definitions glossary and is free to access.

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Flesh flies comprise a large fly family distributed worldwide that has great importance for forensic entomology. A robust and updated checklist of Sarcophaginae flies recorded in Southern Brazil is presented, based on material collected in the Rio Grande do Sul state and on a literature review. The forensic importance (high, moderate, or none) of the recorded flesh flies for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) or inferring cases of neglect was determined based on their ecological habits. A total of 2,831 specimens representing 38 taxa were collected from three studies. Oxysarcodexia was the most abundant and species-rich genus in all three studies. Dexosarcophaga carvalhoi (Lopes) was registered for the first time in Southern Brazil. The checklist for Southern Brazil comprises 91 species distributed in 19 genera, with Oxysarcodexia, Peckia, and Lepidodexia representing the richest genera. Considering the importance of species for PMI estimation, 10, 42, and 39 species were classified as having high, moderate, or no forensic relevance, respectively. Moreover, five myiasis-causing sarcophagine flies recorded in Southern Brazil were considered to have the potential to reveal cases of neglect or mistreatment. This study revealed that Microcerella halli (Engel) and Peckia (Euboettcheria) australis (Townsend) are the most important species for PMI estimation in Southern Brazil, as they are often found breeding in corpses in this region.

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Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius, 1805) is a Neotropical blowfly species of forensic importance, with necrophagous and asynanthropic habits. In this study, the antennal ultrastructure of H. segmentaria was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The three antennal segments are covered by microtrichia. Sensilla chaetica were detected only on the scape and pedicel. Setiferous plaques and a pedicellar button were observed on the pedicel. Four types of sensilla were found on the postpedicel, including s. trichoidea, s. basiconica (subtype I, II and III), s. coeloconica subtype I, and sensory pits with s. coeloconica subtype II. This is the first time that the fine structure of the antennae of H. segmentaria was studied. Our results constitute a solid base for research on comparative and functional morphology in H. segmentaria and other blowflies.(AU)

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Entomotoxicology allows the detection and analysis of substances such as poisons, drugs, and metals in necrophagous insects using analytical protocols. In a forensic situation related to death by gunshot, the gunshot residue (GSR) is dispersed at the crime scene and may be consumed by necrophagous insects. Lead (Pb) is the most abundant metal in GSR samples and it can be determined using non-portable methods. However, the toxicity effects of GSR samples on Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and the detection of Pb via portable electrochemical methods have not been investigated. This study describes for the first time the toxicity analysis of Pb on immature L. cuprina through their survival rate and influence of Pb on immature development. In addition, the bioaccumulation of Pb in the larvae samples was determined based on square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) measurements. The results revealed a low limit of detection to Pb (6.5 µg L-1) and the analytical performance was satisfactory because it measures Pb levels in larvae exposed to a diet containing 50 µg Pb g-1. Furthermore, the levels of Pb influenced the survival rate and development time of the immature L. cuprina. Larvae exposed to a high concentration of the metal (50 µg Pb g -1) showed statistically significant changes (p < 0.05). The presence of Pb in immature L. cuprina can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval; thus, the present study provides important information in forensic entomology.

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Coleoptera is one of the largest taxon among animals and exhibits diverse eating habits. When associated with decaying corpses, beetles can be of great value in estimating the postmortem interval. In order to consolidate a useful database for the forensic field, it is necessary to study the entomological fauna associated with the carcasses in different geographical regions since the diversity of insects varies according to the biogeoclimate zone. Thus, this study aimed to assess the influence of environmental and ecological factors on the composition and succession of beetles associated with pig carcasses exposed in southern Brazil. Collections were carried out during the hot/dry and cold/wet seasons. A total of 415 specimens belonging to 18 Coleoptera families were sampled. The highest total abundance (n = 329) and diversity (n = 44 taxa) were recorded in the cold/wet season, corresponding to approximately 80% of the total sampled from the two seasons. Dermestidae (26.7%) was the family most abundantly sampled. Regarding eating habits, in an increasing order of importance were necrophagous (43.3%), predator (31.6%), and omnivorous (0.05%). In the hot/dry season, there was no faunal succession. In the cold/wet season, the succession was more associated with differences in abundance than to the presence or absence of a specific taxon by decomposition stage. Considering all the factors analyzed in the current study, three species of beetles, Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Dermestidae), Euspilotus azureus (Sahlberg, 1823) (Histeridae), and Oxelytrum discicolle Brullé, 1840 (Silphidae), could be identified as being of the greatest forensic relevance in this biogeoclimatic zone.

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We present the first report of Nasutitermes guayanae feeding on human bone remains found in an urban area of the municipality of Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia, in the Colombian Amazon piedmont. The record indicates an expansion in the diet of these termites. The observation suggests that the association of N. guayanae with decomposing bodies may be a possible tool for the estimation of postmortem intervals.

Presentamos el primer reporte de Nasutitermes guayanae alimentándose de restos óseos humanos encontrados en un área urbana del município de Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia, en el Piedemonte Amazónico colombiano. El registro indica una expasión en la dieta de esas térmitas. La observación sugiere que la asociación de N. guayanae con cuerpos en descomposición puede ser una posible herramienta para la estimación de intervalos postmortem.

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RESUMEN Presentamos el primer reporte de Nasutitermes guayanae alimentándose de restos óseos humanos encontrados en un área urbana del município de Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia, en el Piedemonte Amazónico colombiano. El registro indica una expasión en la dieta de esas térmitas. La observación sugiere que la asociación de N. guayanae con cuerpos en descomposición puede ser una posible herramienta para la estimación de intervalos postmortem.

ABSTRACT We present the first report of Nasutitermes guayanae feeding on human bone remains found in an urban area of the municipality of Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia, in the Colombian Amazon piedmont. The record indicates an expansion in the diet of these termites. The observation suggests that the association of N. guayanae with decomposing bodies may be a possible tool for the estimation of postmortem intervals.

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We present the first report of Nasutitermes guayanae feeding on human bone remains found in an urban area of the municipality of Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia, in the Colombian Amazon piedmont. The record indicates an expansion in the diet of these termites. The observation suggests that the association of N. guayanae with decomposing bodies may be a possible tool for the estimation of postmortem intervals.(AU)

Presentamos el primer reporte de Nasutitermes guayanae alimentándose de restos óseos humanos encontrados en un área urbana del município de Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia, en el Piedemonte Amazónico colombiano. El registro indica una expasión en la dieta de esas térmitas. La observación sugiere que la asociación de N. guayanae con cuerpos en descomposición puede ser una posible herramienta para la estimación de intervalos postmortem.(AU)

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Egg, larvae and the puparium of Fannia sabroskyi Seago, 1954 (Diptera, Fanniidae) are described and illustrated for the first time. The following structures have been documented: pseudocephalon, antennal complex, maxillary palpus, facial mask, anterior spiracle, cephaloskeleton structures, thoracic and abdominal processes, anal division, and posterior spiracle. Due to its necrophagous habit, this species may be of potential forensic importance for estimating the postmortem interval in criminal investigations. The information presented herein may be useful to distinguish the immature forms of Fannia species and to supplement the database for identification of Neotropical species of Fanniidae. In addition, it is also important for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies.

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Ants are one of the first insects to find an exposed cadaver and can be present during all stages of decomposition. Although these organisms are not commonly used in postmortem interval estimates, they are to be taken into account on criminal investigations involving human corpses, since they can leave bite marks that can be mistaken for antemortem or perimortem injuries, which could be misleading when ascertaining the occurrence of abuse or physical altercation during a crime. A few studies report the action of ants on human cadavers and even though leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta are frequently encountered in succession studies that use animal carcasses, there are no records of these fungus-growing species on human corpses. Atta is a genus restricted to the New World, ranging from northern Argentina to southern United States and acts as one of the most conspicuous neotropical herbivores. In this study, we report three cases of violent death that illustrate the impact of ants, especially those of the genus Atta, in a forensic setting. We compare the patterns displayed by postmortem bite injuries caused by leaf-cutter ants and other common species with less robust mandibles. We also present the capability of Atta ants to create artifacts by cutting victim's clothes in a crime scene, contributing to the knowledge of ant-mediated confounding factors in crime scene investigation.

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The assembly of species that colonize animal organic matter, their relative abundance, and dynamics are affected by the environmental and biogeographical conditions to which these resources are exposed. Baited trap studies are essential for research on the diversity, seasonality, distribution and population dynamics of necrophagous flies. Decomposing baits provide the necessary stimulus for flies to aggregate on them. In this study, three types of bait of animal origin with different organic chemical composition were compared in terms of the diversity, richness, abundance, and species composition of saprophagous flies species that were attracted to them. Bone-meal (BM), cow liver (CL), and rotten chicken viscera (CV) were used as bait to collect flies. In total, 3,387 Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, and Muscidae adult flies were collected. The most abundant species were Lucilia ochricornis (Wiedemann 1830), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann 1819) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens (Wiedemann 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), and Ophyra capensis (Wiedemann 1818) (Diptera: Muscidae). The type of bait had significant effects on both the total richness (F2,18 = 57.08; P < 0.0001) and the effective number of species (F2,18 = 12.81; P = 0.0003) per trap. The average richness was higher in traps baited with chicken viscera, followed by cow liver and finally by bone-meal. The composition of cow liver and bone meal species constitute subsets of the species collected with chicken viscera, thus using the three baits would not increase the number of species detected. These results indicate that chicken viscera is the most efficient bait for testing or assessing necrophagous fly diversity.

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Competition influences the expression of morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits and also regulates ecological and evolutionary dynamics. This study aims to identify and characterize changes in wing morphology in response to intra- and interspecific competition in three necrophagous blowfly species. Using geometric morphometry, we analyzed 3,238 wings from Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, and C. vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758) raised under cloistered and pairwise conditions. The three species reacted similarly to intraspecific competition-reducing wing size with increased competition-but displayed contrasting patterns of response to interspecific competition. Lucilia sericata displayed a directional change in wing shape in response to an interspecific competitor, while C. vicina increased the scattering of individuals across the morphospace, and C. vomitoria displayed no significant change in response to the same stimulus. Our results show that the same stimulus yields distinctive responses; thus, different competition-related strategies are expected to occur in the three species.

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Entre 2017 y 2018 se realizaron muestreos durante cuatro meses en un fragmento de bosque tropical perennifolio de un área natural protegida de Chiapas, México. Se instalaron trampas de caída ubicados a lo largo de un trayecto de aproximadamente 500 m. Las trampas fueron cebadas con individuos recién muertos de Messicobolus magnificus, un milpiés abundante en la reserva durante la temporada lluviosa. Se capturaron 108 individuos de cuatro especies de escarabajos: Canthon vazquezae (92), Deltochilum pseudoparile (13), Coprophanaeus corythus (2) y Ateuchus rodriguezi (1). Únicamente D. pseudoparile ha sido previamente recolectada con carroña de otras especies de milpiés. El uso de este tipo de recurso posiblemente sea una fuente alterna que permite reducir la competencia interespecífica por otros recursos efímeros entre los Scarabaeinae.

Between 2017 and 2018, samplings out for four months in a tropical evergreen forest fragment from a natural protected area of Chiapas, Mexico, were carried. Pitfall traps were installed along a path of about 500 m. The traps were baited with freshly killed individuals of Messicobolus magnificus, an abundant millipede during the rainy season in the reserve. 108 individuals of four beetles' species were captured: Canthon vazquezae (92), Deltochilum pseudoparile (13), Coprophanaeus corythus (2) and Ateuchus rodriguezi (1). Only D. pseudoparile has been previously collected with carcasses from other millipede species. The use of this resource type is possibly an alternative source that reduces interspecific competition among the Scarabaeinae for other ephemeral resources.

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Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are necrophagous flies with ecological, medical, veterinary, and forensic importance. These flies carry pathogens that they spread to animals and humans, and produce myiasis. Furthermore, they are useful tools in forensic science as indicators of postmortem intervals, and in biomedicine they are successfully used in larval therapy. This study aimed to assess the spatiotemporal variation of the blowflies community from the urban area of Sincelejo City, located in the Colombian Caribbean region. Samplings were conducted from May 2012 to April 2013, using Van Someren Rydon-traps baited with bovine meat, fish, and chicken that decomposed for 48 h. Six species were registered, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) was the most abundant, followed by Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819) and Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), while Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) presented the least individuals. The blowflies community did not change significantly throughout the sampling months or between the periods of low or high rainfall, nor was it influenced by weather variables. Although the species composition was the same in all sampled localities, species abundances presented significant differences. The possible causes of this pattern are discussed herein. Sex ratios were female biased for all the recorded species, except C. idioidea. Our findings provide the first assessment of the blowflies community from the urban area of Sincelejo City.

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Studies of carrion fauna have increased in Brazil and have contributed to the knowledge of this fauna in the national territory. Brazil has continental dimensions and presents various biomes in its territorial area. Most of the carrion fauna have seldom been studied, and this is especially true for the Savanna or "Cerrado." The present research examined the fauna visiting carrion in two environments and two seasons in a rural area situated in a region of Cerrado in southeastern Brazil. The two environments studied were a pasture and a fragment of semi-deciduous forest. Samples were collected during the dry and humid seasons of the year. The study identified the diversity and relative abundance of species attracted to pig carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) exposed in each environment and season. Eight pig carcasses (10 ± 1 kg) were placed in traps, and adult insects attracted to the traps were collected during the decay of the carcasses. A total of 92,489 insects were collected during the experiments. The Diptera was the most frequent order (92.2%) represented by 27 families and at least 124 species. This was followed by Coleoptera (4.4%) represented by 14 families and at least 65 species. Sarcophagidae had the greatest diversity of species, followed by Muscidae and Calliphoridae. Several species were collected only during a specific period of the year or in a single environment. The results are important from an ecological point of view and for Medico-Legal Forensic Entomology.

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Each biome has its own fauna and intrinsic local conditions that determine the succession patterns of insects on carcasses. For this reason, regional studies are very important to forensics. This study deals with the flies that visit carcasses of Rattus rattus (L., 1758) in the Atlantic Forest remnant of Floresta da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We compare the diversity and relative abundance of fly families and species throughout the four seasons of the year and test for correlations between certain environmental variables and fly richness. In each of the four seasons, we exposed the carcasses of three rats. The carcasses were put in traps that were installed on the ground, separated by 100 m. The flies were collected from the carcasses on a daily basis, and were taken to the laboratory and kept in a climate chamber (28 °C day and 26 °C night). A total of 5,537 flies were captured, identified into 12 families: Calliphoridae (4,884 specimens), followed by Sarcophagidae, Micropezidae, Fannidae, Muscidae, Phoridae, and Neridae. Canonical correspondence and redundancy analyses of the environmental variables indicated no relationship between the seasons and fly abundance. Carcass decomposition lasted longer in the winter (12 d) than in the summer (8 d). The Margalef richness index indicated higher richness in the spring and winter, and lower richness in the summer. The Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson dominance indicated greater diversity in the spring. Diptera colonized all stages of decomposition. The families Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae were more prevalent during the Fermentation stage. Our data have important implications for forensic entomology.

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Currently 13 species-group names assigned to the subgenus Megaphanaeus of Coprophanaeus are deemed available (or 'potentially available'), four of which denote valid species. In the present work we review the nomenclatural history of those names and conclude that two of them, Scarabaeus satelles Lichtenstein, 1796 and Copris ajax Sturm, 1826, are unavailable. For the other 11 names, we found type specimens of five, Scarabaeus bellicosus Olivier, 1789, Copris ensifer Germar, 1821, Phanaeus septentrionalis Pêssoa, 1934, P. vicinus Martínez, 1944, and P. vicinus var. argentinus Martínez, 1944. Two lectotypes are designated, one for Copris ensifer and other for Phanaeus septentrionalis. We were unable to locate the type series of the four names described by Castelnau (1840), i.e. Phanaeus ducalis, P. sylvanus, P. heros and P. miles, and of P. bonariensis Gory, 1844 and Scarabaeus lancifer Linné, 1767. For the latter, based on some iconotypes, we found that its type series was composite, including specimens of two different Megaphanaeus species, and, in addition, it was mixed with Copris ensifer type series. In order to fix the name to a sole species, a neotype is designated for Scarabaeus lancifer. The history of the names are presented in detail, and the application of these names to species is briefly re-discussed.

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Knowing the importance of participation by insects at cadaverous decomposition processes, and the limited use of the family Formicidae in criminal investigations, this study aims to record the foraging activity of four genera of ants in carcasses of birds and mammals. Observations occurred accidentally in two locations in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In total, seven species of ants foraging in eight vertebrate carcasses were recorded. In addition, the study reported for the first time the presence of Wasmannia in carcasses in Brazil.

Sabendo da importância da participação dos insetos em processos de decomposição cadavérica e do uso limitado da família Formicidae em investigações criminais, o objetivo do presente estudo foi registrar a atividade de forrageio de quatro gêneros de formigas em carcaças de aves e mamíferos. As observações ocorreram de forma acidental em duas localidades do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. No total, foram registradas sete espécies de formigas forrageando em oito carcaças de vertebrados. O trabalho registrou ainda pela primeira vez a presença do gênero Wasmannia em carcaças no Brasil.

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