227:
195:
235:
140:
88:
468:
studies these stages are commonly described as fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay and dry decay. Studies have shown that each stage is characterized by particular insect species, the succession of which depends on chemical and physical properties of remains, rate of decomposition and environmental factors. Insects associated with decomposing remains may be useful in determining post-mortem interval, manner of death, and the association of suspects. Insect species and their times of colonization will vary according to the geographic region, and therefore may help determine if remains have been moved.
357:
ends may aid colonization of certain insect species and keep the insects protected from the outside environment. This boost in colonization can lead to faster decomposition. Clothing also provides a protective barrier between the body and insects that can delay stages of decomposition. For instance, if a corpse is wearing a heavy jacket, this can slow down decomposition in that particular area and insects will colonize elsewhere. Bodies that are covered in
243:
348:
or post mortem, tend to decompose faster due to easier insect access. The cause of death likewise can leave openings in the body that allow insects and bacteria access to the inside body cavities in earlier stages of decay. Flies oviposit eggs inside natural openings and wounds that may become exaggerated when the eggs hatch and the larvae begin feeding.
48:(PMI). One method of obtaining this estimate uses the time and pattern of arthropod colonization. This method will provide an estimation of the period of insect activity, which may or may not correlate exactly with the time of death. While insect successional data may not provide as accurate an estimate during the early stages of
409:
is currently studying the effects of drugs on the development of insects who have fed on the decomposing tissue of a drug user. The effects of drugs and toxins on insect development are proving to be an important factor when determining the insect colonization time. It has been shown that cocaine use
347:
such as wolves, dogs, cats, beetles, and other insects feeding on the remains of a carcass can make determining the time of insect colonization much harder. This is because the decomposition process has been interrupted by factors that may speed up decomposition. Corpses with open wounds, whether pre
300:
Low temperatures generally slow down the activity of blow-flies and their colonization of a body. Higher temperatures in the summer favor large maggot masses on the carrion. Dry and windy environments can dehydrate a corpse, leading to mummification. Dryness causes cessation in bacterial growth since
272:
The final stage of decomposition is dry remains. Payne described a total of six stages of decay, the last two being separate dry and remains. As these stages are nearly impossible to distinguish between, many entomological studies combine the two into a single final stage. Very little remains of the
356:
Wraps, garments, and clothing have shown to affect the rate of decomposition because the corpse is covered by some type of barrier. Wraps, such as tight fighting tarps can advance the stages of decay during warm weather when the body is outside. However, loose fitting coverings that are open on the
276:
The greatest number of species are reported to occur in the late decay and dry stages. The dry decay stage is characterized by the movement from previously dominant carrion fauna to new species. Very few adult calliphorids are attracted to the carcass at this stage, and adult piophilids emerge. The
210:
Feeding larvae of
Calliphoridae flies are the dominant insect group at carcasses during the active decay stage. At the beginning of the stage larvae are concentrated in natural orifices, which offer the least resistance to feeding. Towards later stages, when flesh has been removed from the head and
206:
larvae pierce the skin and internal gases are released. During this stage the carcass has a characteristic wet appearance due to the liquefaction of tissues. Flesh from the head and around the anus and umbilical cord is removed by larval feeding activity. A strong odor of putrefaction is associated
123:
are also common in this first stage of decomposition. First eggs are laid in or near the natural orifices of the head and anus, as well as at the site of perimortem wounds. Depending on the rate of decomposition and the development time of particular blowfly species, eggs may hatch and young larvae
95:
The fresh stage of decomposition is generally described as the period between the moment of death and when the first signs of bloat are apparent. There are no outward signs of physical change, though internal bacteria have begun to digest organ tissues. No odor is associated with the carcass. Early
69:
are commonly described: (1) Fresh, (2) Bloat, (3) Active Decay, (4) Advanced or Post-Decay, and (5) Dry
Remains. While the pattern of arthropod colonization follows a reasonably predictable sequence, the limits of each stage of decomposition will not necessarily coincide with a major change in the
291:
Understanding how a corpse decomposes and the factors that may alter the rate of decay is extremely important for evidence in death investigations. Campobasso, Vella, and
Introna consider the factors that may inhibit or favor the colonization of insects to be vitally important when determining the
467:
Understanding the stages of decomposition, the colonization of insects, and factors that may affect decomposition and colonization are key in determining forensically important information about the body. Different insects colonize the body throughout the stage of decomposition. In entomological
414:
larvae that fed in the nasal cavity of a cocaine abuser, grew over 8 mm longer than larvae of the same generation found elsewhere on the body. Other researchers in entomotoxicology are developing techniques to detect and measure drug levels in older fly pupae. This research is useful for
147:
The first visible sign of the Bloat Stage is a slight inflation of the abdomen and some blood bubbles at the nose. Activity of anaerobic bacteria in the abdomen create gases, which accumulate and results in abdominal bloating. A colour change is observed in the carcass flesh, along with the
309:
Access to the body can limit which insects can get to the body in order to feed and lay eggs. Those circumstances that enhance the availability of corpses for arthropod colonization are called "physical barriers". For example, corpses found in brightly lit areas are generally inhabited by
60:
Decomposition is a continuous process that is commonly divided into stages for convenience of discussion. When studying decomposition from an entomological point of view and for the purpose of applying data to human death investigations, the
326:, aquatic insects and bacteria would be the likely fauna in this case. Bodies that have been buried are harder to get to than freely available bodies which limits the availability of certain insects to colonize. The Coffin fly
322:, which prefers more shaded areas. Darkness, cold, and rain limit the amount of insects that would otherwise colonize the body. A submerged corpse can vary in temperature and is colonized by very few terrestrial insects. Fish,
259:
This stage marks the first mass migration of third instar calliphorid larvae from the carcass
Piophilidae larvae may also be collected at this stage. Few adult calliphoridae are attracted to carcasses in advanced decay. Adult
947:
GonzΓ‘lez Medina A, Soriano
Hernando Γ, JimΓ©nez RΓos G (May 2015). "The Use of the Developmental Rate of the Aquatic Midge Chironomus riparius (Diptera, Chironomidae) in the Assessment of the Postsubmersion Interval".
218:
arrive at the carcass during the active decay stage. Members of
Coleoptera become the dominant adult insects at the site of remains. In particular, the numbers of staphylinids and histerids increase.
214:
Adult calliphorids and muscids decreased in numbers during this stage, and were not observed to be mating. However, non-Calliphoridae
Dipterans are collected from carcasses. The first members of
277:
dermestid beetles, common in advanced decay, leave the carcass. Non-carrion organisms that commonly arrive at remains in dry decay are centipedes, millipedes, isopods, snails and cockroaches.
273:
carcass in this stage, mainly bones, cartilage and small bits of dried skin. There is little to no odor associated with remains. Any odor present may range from that of dried skin to wet fur.
70:
faunal community. Therefore, the stages of decomposition are defined by the observable physical changes to the state of the carcass. A pattern of insect succession results as different
381:
also tend to retain heat much longer than corpses with less body fat. Higher temperatures favor the reproduction of bacteria inside high nutrient areas of the liver and other organs.
115:, commonly referred to as blow flies. These flies have been reported to arrive within minutes of death or exposure, and deposit eggs within 1β3 hours. Adult flies of the families
256:
Most of the flesh is removed from the carcass during the advanced decay stage, though some flesh may remain in the abdominal cavity. Strong odors of decomposition begin to fade.
389:
On occasion, drugs that are present in the body at death can also affect how fast insects break down the corpse. Development of these insects can be sped up by
286:
78:
A decaying carcass provides "a temporarily, rapidly changing resource which supports a large, dynamic arthropod community." β M. Grassberger and C. Frank
131:
may also be seen at a carcass during the fresh stage. Ants will feed both on the carcass flesh as well as eggs and young larvae of first arriving flies.
796:
Schoenly K, Reid W (September 1987). "Dynamics of heterotrophic succession in carrion arthropod assemblages: discrete seres or a continuum of change?".
155:
Blowflies remain present in great numbers during the bloat stage, and blowflies, flesh flies and muscids continue to lay eggs. Insects of the families
226:
1106:
194:
96:
post-mortem changes, used by pathologists as medical markers for early post-mortem interval estimations, have been described by Goff and include
332:
is one of the few fly species seen on buried bodies because it has the ability to dig up to six feet underground to reach a body and oviposit.
234:
377:
allows for faster decomposition. This is due to the composition of fat, which is high in water content. Larger corpses with higher percent
139:
87:
1131:
912:
Haskell NH, McShaffrey DG, Hawley DA, Williams RE, Pless JE (1989). "Use of aquatic insects in determining submersion interval".
738:
Grassberger M, Frank C (May 2004). "Initial study of arthropod succession on pig carrion in a central
European urban habitat".
365:
may be slow to have insect colonization. The absence of insects feeding on the body would slow down the rate of decomposition.
44:
that applies the study of insects to criminal investigations, and is commonly used in death investigations for estimating the
1091:
74:
are attracted to the varying biological, chemical and physical changes a carcass undergoes throughout the process of decay.
52:
as developmental data, it is applicable for later decompositional stages and can be accurate for periods up to a few years.
847:
Rodriguez WC, Bass WM (1983). "Insect activity and its relationship to decay rates of human cadavers in East
Tennessee".
564:
Anderson GS, VanLaerhoven SL (1996). "Initial studies on insect succession on carrion in southwestern
British Columbia".
1121:
1014:
877:
Campobasso CP, Di Vella G, Introna F (August 2001). "Factors affecting decomposition and Diptera colonization".
248:
1126:
17:
264:(skin beetles) arrive at the carcass; adult dermestid beetles may be common, whereas larval stages are not
34:
65:
Sus scrofa (Linnaeus) is considered to be the preferred human analogs. In entomological studies, five
805:
683:
45:
33:
is how insects decompose and what that means for timing and information in criminal investigations.
41:
592:
983:
829:
763:
699:
628:
Kreitlow KL (2010). "Insect Succession in a Natural Environment". In Byrd JH, Castner JL (eds.).
415:
determining cause of death for bodies that are found during later stages of decay. To this date,
328:
124:
begin to feed on tissues and liquids while the carcass is still classified in the fresh stage.
1045:
975:
929:
894:
821:
755:
607:
505:
452:
312:
182:. These beetles are observed feeding on fly eggs and larvae. Beetle species from the families
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1010:
965:
957:
921:
886:
856:
813:
747:
691:
573:
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406:
163:
arrive during the bloat stage. Ants continue to feed on the eggs and young larvae of flies.
420:
71:
593:"Estimation of Postmortem Interval Using Arthropod Development and Successional Patterns"
202:
The beginning of active decay stage is marked by the deflation of the carcass as feeding
809:
687:
501:
318:
1041:
890:
1115:
428:
171:
112:
66:
49:
833:
1001:
Carloye L (2003). "Of Maggots & Murder: Forensic Entomology in the Classroom".
987:
767:
444:
149:
105:
101:
97:
62:
211:
orifices, larvae become more concentrated in the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
170:
arrive during the bloat stage of decomposition, including members of the families
1101:
440:
261:
156:
751:
674:
Payne JA (1965). "A summer carrion study of the baby pig sus scrofa Linnaeus".
186:
may also be collected during this stage, and are often hidden beneath remains.
416:
362:
358:
344:
340:
323:
242:
183:
167:
37:
961:
488:
Catts EP, Goff ML (1992). "Forensic entomology in criminal investigations".
424:
175:
160:
116:
1049:
979:
898:
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611:
933:
509:
448:
436:
432:
378:
374:
215:
179:
120:
970:
817:
703:
394:
390:
1086:
925:
860:
630:
Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations
577:
1028:
Introna F, Campobasso CP, Goff ML (August 2001). "Entomotoxicology".
456:
695:
241:
233:
225:
193:
138:
86:
1072:(4th ed.). Clemson, SC: Joyce's Print Shop, Inc. p. 35.
111:
The first insects to arrive at decomposing remains are usually
203:
128:
1015:
10.1662/0002-7685(2003)065[0360:OMMFEI]2.0.CO;2
148:
appearance of marbling. During the bloat stage the odor of
1096:
410:
can accelerate the development of maggots. In one case,
230:
Pig carcass in the advanced decay stage of decomposition
198:
Pig carcass in the active decay stage of decomposition
238:
Pig carcass in the dry/remains stage of decomposition
1102:
Offwell Woodland and Wildlife Trust β Decomposition
1097:The North American Forensic Entomology Association
143:Pig carcass in the bloat stage of decomposition
91:Pig carcass in the fresh stage of decomposition
733:
247:Blowfly and fly larvae on 5-day-old corpse of
872:
870:
731:
729:
727:
725:
723:
721:
719:
717:
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8:
287:Environmental effects on forensic entomology
18:Forensic Entomology: Stages of Decomposition
559:
557:
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541:
539:
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301:there are no nutrients present to feed on.
1087:Explore the science of Forensic Entomology
1070:Entomology & Death: A Procedural Guide
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477:
1092:American Board of Forensic Entomology
7:
783:Forensic Entomology: An Introduction
393:and slowed down by drugs containing
31:Forensic entomological decomposition
1068:Catts EP, Haskell NG, eds. (1990).
502:10.1146/annurev.en.37.010192.001345
459:have been recovered from maggots.
405:New research in the related field
25:
281:Factors affecting decomposition
1030:Forensic Science International
879:Forensic Science International
1:
1042:10.1016/s0379-0738(01)00418-2
891:10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00411-X
740:Journal of Medical Entomology
632:. CRC Press. pp. 251β69.
292:time of insect colonization.
1003:The American Biology Teacher
950:Journal of Forensic Sciences
849:Journal of Forensic Sciences
785:. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
566:Journal of Forensic Sciences
361:or in an area surrounded in
336:Reduction and cause of death
490:Annual Review of Entomology
1148:
752:10.1603/0022-2585-41.3.511
369:Percent body fat of corpse
284:
251:(Hystrix africaeaustralis)
27:Aspect of forensic science
591:Goff ML (December 1993).
1132:Medical aspects of death
962:10.1111/1556-4029.12707
600:Forensic Science Review
352:Clothing and pesticides
296:Temperature and climate
249:South African porcupine
67:stages of decomposition
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178:(carrion beetles) and
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1107:Decomposing Pig Video
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166:The first species of
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222:Advanced decay stage
152:becomes noticeable.
46:post-mortem interval
1122:Forensic entomology
810:1987Oecol..73..192S
781:Gennard DE (2007).
688:1965Ecol...46..592P
42:forensic entomology
818:10.1007/BF00377507
329:Megaselia scalaris
254:
240:
232:
207:with the carcass.
200:
190:Active decay stage
145:
119:(flesh flies) and
93:
926:10.1520/JFS12682J
861:10.1520/JFS11524J
578:10.1520/JFS13964J
316:, in contrast to
313:Lucilia illustris
16:(Redirected from
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412:Lucilia sericata
407:entomotoxicology
401:Current research
174:(rove beetles),
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375:fat on the body
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72:carrion insects
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1081:External links
1079:
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1075:
1055:
1036:(1β2): 42β47.
1020:
993:
939:
920:(3): 622β326.
904:
885:(1β2): 18β27.
866:
839:
804:(2): 192β202.
788:
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746:(3): 511β23.
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113:Calliphoridae
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56:Decomposition
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629:
606:(2): 81β94.
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445:clomipramine
411:
404:
388:
372:
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165:
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150:putrefaction
146:
126:
110:
106:algor mortis
102:rigor mortis
98:livor mortis
94:
77:
63:domestic pig
59:
30:
29:
441:alimemazine
324:crustaceans
262:Dermestidae
157:Piophilidae
135:Bloat stage
83:Fresh stage
35:Medicolegal
1116:Categories
496:: 253β72.
472:References
463:Conclusion
417:bromazepam
363:pesticides
359:pesticides
345:carnivores
341:Scavengers
184:Histeridae
168:Coleoptera
38:entomology
798:Oecologia
425:malathion
268:Dry decay
176:Silphidae
161:Fanniidae
1050:11457608
980:25613586
899:11457604
834:52828423
826:28312287
760:15185958
612:26270076
449:morphine
437:oxazepam
433:trazolam
379:body fat
216:Sepsidae
204:Dipteran
180:Cleridae
121:Muscidae
988:7167656
934:2661719
806:Bibcode
768:1785998
704:1934999
684:Bibcode
676:Ecology
510:1539937
453:mercury
395:arsenic
391:cocaine
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457:copper
455:, and
305:Access
127:Adult
984:S2CID
830:S2CID
764:S2CID
700:JSTOR
596:(PDF)
385:Drugs
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