The Influence of Wounds, Severe Trauma, and Clothing, on Carcass Decomposition and Arthropod Succession in South Africa

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of different types of physical wounds as well as clothing on carcass decomposition and arthropod succession during all seasons over one year in South Africa. The trials for each season included six pigs, Sus scrofa, carcasses: two carcasses with wounds, one carcass was clothed the other was not; two carcasses with stab wounds, one carcass was clothed and the other was not; two carcasses with severe trauma wounds, one carcass was clothed and the other was not. The decomposition process and arthropod succession were not influenced by the absence or presence of wounds. Adult female Diptera did not select the wounds as oviposition sites. The presence of clothing caused a slight change in decomposition process only during summer and winter trials. The dominant Diptera in autumn and summer were Chrysomya marginalis and Chrysomya albiceps. In spring, it was Chrysomya chloropyga and C. albiceps and in winter it was Sarcophaga spp., C. chloropyga, Calliphora vicina, and Lucilia spp. During the warmer seasons, maggot predation by C. albiceps on C. marginalis was observed. In all seasons the Coleoptera were dominated by Dermestes maculatus and Necrobia rufipes, however, in summer, Thanatophilus micans and Histeridae spp. were also recorded. RésuméCette étude a examiné l'influence des différents types de blessures physiques ainsi que des vêtements sur la décomposition des carcasses et de la succession d'arthropodes pendant toutes les saisons sur un an en Afrique du Sud. Les essais pour chaque saison ont été réalisés avec les carcasses de six cochons Sus scrofa,: deux carcasses avec des blessures, l'une habillée et l'autre pas, deux carcasses avec blessures par arme blanche, l'une habillée et l'autre pas, et deux carcasses avec de graves traumatismes, l'une habillée et l'autre pas. Le processus de décomposition et la succession des arthropodes ne sont pas influencés par l'absence ou la présence de blessures. La femelle adulte Diptère n'a pas choisi les blessures comme sites de ponte. La présence de l'habillement n'a provoqué qu'un léger changement dans le processus de décom-position et ce, uniquement durant les essais d'été et d'hiver. Les diptères dominantes en automne et en été ont été la Chrysomya marginalis et la Chrysomya albiceps. Au printemps, elles ont été les Chrysomya chloropyga et la C. albiceps tandis qu'en hiver, elles étaient plutôt les Sarcophaga spp., C. chloropyga, Calliphora vicina et Lucilia spp. Pendant les saisons chaudes, la prédation par la mouche C. albiceps sur la C. marginalis a été observée. En toutes saisons, les coléoptères dominantes ont été le Dermestes maculatus et la Necrobia rufipes. En été cependant, le Thanatophilus micans et les Histeridae spp. ont également été enregistrées.

A Preliminary Study on the Influence of Direct Sunlight and Shade on Carcasses' Decomposition and Arthropod Succession

“…The succession and development of these arthropods was very similar, with very few observations of an arthropod occurring on one carcass and not on the others. These species and succession patterns are similar to other studies conducted in the central Free State, South Africa (27,28). There appears to be a higher number of adults and maggots/larvae (both, flies and beetles, specifically C. chrysomya, C. albiceps, adults and maggots, D maculatus adults and maggots) recorded on the shaded carcasses versus the carcass exposed to full sunlight.…”

Forensic entomology research and application in southern Africa: A scoping review (with corrigendum)

“…Only two articles reported on the diversity of arthropods colonising decomposing carcasses from the southern African region 26,36 (Table 1). Kelly et al 36 observed that during the fresh stage of a pig carcass, only Musca spp.…”

“…Only two articles reported on the diversity of arthropods colonising decomposing carcasses from the southern African region 26,36 (Table 1). Kelly et al 36 observed that during the fresh stage of a pig carcass, only Musca spp. were found, and they persisted during the bloated stage, where seven new species (Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya chloropyga, Chrysomya marginalis, Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia spp., Sarcophagidae and Hydrotaea capensis) visited the carcass, but did not persist past this stage.…”

Does sharp force trauma alter blow fly attraction to, colonization of, and decomposition of vertebrate remains?

“…early instars have difficulty penetrating intact skin, and some have reported that wounds facilitate larval establishment (Campobasso et al., ; Anderson, ). Conversely, other experimental studies have found that both perimortem (Cross & Simmons, ) and postmortem wounds (Kelly et al., ) are not used for oviposition, and female Diptera still prefer natural oviposition sites. Our research is consistent with studies showing wounds facilitating larval establishment, as treatment was found to be a significant predictor of both the first appearance and the abundance of L3.…”