Effect of the killing method on post-mortem change in length of larvae of Thanatophilus micans (Fabricius 1794) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) stored in 70% ethanol

Midgley, John M.; Villet, Martin H.

doi:10.1007/s00414-008-0260-4

Cited by 34 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…It is recommended to kill fly larvae in very hot ([80°C) water [17] and beetle larvae at extremely cold temperatures, i.e. in a freezer at -20°C [83]. The use of 70-95% ethanol for preserving dead specimens is recommended.…”

Section: Where To Collectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic entomology: applications and limitations

Amendt¹,

Richards

Campobasso

et al. 2011

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

390

229

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Forensic entomology is the science of collecting and analysing insect evidence to aid in forensic investigations. Its main application is in the determination of the minimum time since death in cases of suspicious death, either by estimating the age of the oldest necrophagous insects that developed on the corpse, or by analysing the insect species composition on the corpse. In addition, toxicological and molecular examinations of these insects may help reveal the cause of death or even the identity of a victim, by associating a larva with its last meal, for example, in cases where insect evidence is left at a scene after human remains have been deliberately removed. Some fly species can develop not only on corpses but on living bodies too, causing myiasis. Analysis of larvae in such cases can demonstrate the period of neglect of humans or animals. Without the appropriate professional collection of insect evidence, an accurate and convincing presentation of such evidence in court will be hampered or even impossible. The present paper describes the principles and methods of forensic entomology and the optimal techniques for collecting insect evidence.

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Section: Where To Collectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic entomology: applications and limitations

Amendt¹,

Richards

Campobasso

et al. 2011

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

390

229

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An autumn temperature of 19°C is shown to reduce the development time to 17 days (A. Draber-Mońko, unpublished data). The method used to kill insect larvae collected for forensic purposes may also be of some importance [38]. However, it is clear that most entomological evidence is strongly dependent on accurate species identification because identification allows the correct developmental data and distribution ranges to be applied in criminal and general legal investigations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of forensically important blowfly species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) by high-resolution melting PCR analysis

et al. 2010

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We describe here the successful coupling of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis to rapidly identify 15 forensically important species of blowfly from the family Calliphoridae (Diptera), which occur in Poland. Two short regions (119 and 70 base pairs, respectively) of cytochrome oxidase gene subunit I with sufficient sequence diversity were selected. In the case of lacking taxa (e.g., reference species) these amplicons can be synthesized using sequences deposited in gene banks. The technique utilizes low template DNA concentration and is highly reproducible. The melting profile was not altered up to a 10,000-fold difference in DNA template concentration (ranging from 5 pg to 50 ng). The several HRM runs performed on different specimens from Poland belonging to the same species and on different days resulted in only minor variations in the amplification curves and in melting temperatures of the peaks. Intraspecific variation in a larger scale was tested using synthesized oligonucleotides from cosmopolitan Lucilia illustris originating from Poland, France, Great Britain, India, and USA. As HRM PCR analysis is sensitive to even single base changes, all geographic variants of this species were identified. This technique is also cost-effective and simple, and it may even be used by non-geneticists. A working protocol was ultimately constructed for the purpose of rapid and accurate species identification in most countries in Europe regardless of which stage or which part of a blowfly was collected.

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“…Specimens were killed and preserved in ethanol (Midgley and Villet 2009b) and voucher material was deposited at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum (T. micans: NMSA-COL-01339-01353; T. mutilatus: NMSA-COL-01354-01368). Preserved specimens of each instar of each species were examined under a Wild stereo-microscope, described, and their total length and maximum head width measured using a geometrical gauge (Villet 2007).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%