The Patterns of Succession and Evolution on Carrion Insects during the Decomposition of an Animal Corpse in Kazerun City (Fars Province) during Summer and Fall - 2015

Forensic entomology involves the interaction of arthropods (mainly insects) with legal activity. Insects lay eggs on or in human remains, as well as utilize the corpse for food or habitat. Insect development and successional patterns can be an indication of the postmortem interval (PMI) when time of death is unknown. This is the first study on identification of the major taxa of forensic importance insects during two seasons (summer and fall) in southern Iran (city of Kazerun) in 2015.
One calf carcasses were used in each study. The carcass was placed in the site and stages of decomposition were monitored. Five stages of decomposition were diagnosed: Fresh stage, bloated stage, Primary decomposition, Secondary decomposition and Dry stage. Sampling of adult and immature insects were carried out on five stages of decay of carcasses based on the protocol of each season.
Finding: Carnivorous, parasite and predator species were collected during the five stages of the decomposition of corpse. Altogether 33 species were identified in the summer and Chrysomiya albiceps was the dominant species. We have observed 38 species of insects with high frequency of Chrysomya megacephala in the fall. Our study showed, the sequence of arthropod colonization on cadavers remains fairly constant at the family level.
This study indicated that successional patterns of insect species in different seasonal periods and even at different sites have different sequences and these tips are important in determining PMI. Also successional patterns at the genus and species level are only predictable within the parameters of the location where a cadaver is found.