Record of postmortem injuries caused by the Neotropical social wasp Agelaia fulvofasciata (Degeer) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) on pig carcasses in the Eastern Amazon region: implications in forensic taphonomy

Abstract

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.

Crime scene and body alterations caused by arthropods: implications in death investigation

“…Among these, 7 were case reports [13][14][15][16][17][18][19], 3 case series [6,20,21], 19 original articles [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40], 4 were technical notes [41][42][43][44] and 8 were reviews [1,10,[45][46][47][48][49][50].…”

“…In addition to macroscopic observations, immunological and molecular tests have to be applied for the correct identification of suspect spots [35].…”

“…In forensic investigations, the estimation of the origin and the age of ante-and peri-mortem injuries is one of the fundamental steps to identify the cause of death [35] that, as previously mentioned, is one of the key points for crime reconstruction. Moreover, after death, corpses go through a series of transformations and alterations resulting from cellular and tissue lysis, from seaweed, fungi and plants proliferation and from local macro-and micro-fauna feeding activity [16,39,46].…”

“…This kind of post-mortem alteration deserves the forensic pathologist's attention when evaluating corpses either at the crime scene or during the autopsy [35]. In fact, the underestimation of such alterations may cause considerable complications in clarifying the cause of death, leading to wrong conclusions [59].…”

“…Furthermore, injuries resulting from post-mortem arthropod activity can confuse even experienced pathologists in terms of the nature and chronology of the injury, due to similarities with the ante-mortem wounds so that they may be misidentified as sources of intravenous drug use, bite marks, defensive wounds, ulcers, burns or abrasions, signs of an attack, abuse, neglect or torture or other activities depending on the case and death scene circumstances [35,38].…”