Insects are important in the decomposition of cadavers. In the field of forensic entomology, the taxonomic identification is essential to proceed to any procedure. The use of these insects in medico criminal investigation is the object of forensic entomological studies; the flies are generally attracted to cadavers and one of the most important contributions is to estimate the postmortem interval. The scanning electron microscopy, which allows rapid and accurate identification of character could be used to help identify different species of forensics flies, has been highlighted as it allows better visualization of the external morphology of immature and some adults. The aim of this study was to describe the katepisternals in females of Morellia humeralis and Biopyrellia bipuncta; the ommatidia of the compounds eyes of the male of B. bipuncta; the antennae of females of Ophyra aenescens and Ophyra albuquerquei and the ocellar triangle of the last two species and O. chalcogaster examined by scanning electron microscopy to help increase the anatomical database on flies for forensic importance. The katepisternals of M. humeralis and B. bipuncta were densely covered by different groups of sensilla. The surface of the ocellar region of O. aenescens was not covered by sensilla, but in O. albuquerquei and O. chalcogaster were densely covered by different types of sensilla. The coeloconic sensilla were only found in the flagellum of O. albuquerquei.
RBE 45 1-3 Revista Brasileira de Entomologia xxx (2015) xxx-xxx w w w . r b e n t o m o l o g i a . c o m a b s t r a c tPostmortem injuries are a source of misinterpretations in forensic analysis and therefore are subject matter of taphonomic interest. Many types of injuries can cause different artifacts, which deserve attention of the forensic pathologists when evaluating corpses, either at the crime scene or during an autopsy. Insects can be important biotaphonomic agents and their activity may result in artifacts that resemble antemortem injuries. Here, we describe postmortem injuries caused by the Neotropical wasp Agelaia fulvofasciata (Degeer, 1773) on domestic pig carcasses weighting 15 kg. The specimens showed extensive injuries to the lower lip, similar to lacerations, and some minor lesions on the snout and anus. In addition, we observed the same wasp species preying on larvae of Sarcophagidae (Peckia sp.). Besides causing postmortem injuries, the ability of this species to detect carcasses in the early and fresh decomposition stages should be noted. Thus, future applications aiming criminal, any biotaphonomic events caused by carrion insects need to be disclosed.
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