Orientador: Eduardo Daruge / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T16:59:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Scaglia_JorgeAlejandroPaulete_M.pdf: 3759817 bytes, checksum: c24d4be1f820d68f596b05dcaac0a60f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: A aplicação do estudo dos insetos, ácaros e outros artrópodes, a assuntos legais, é denominada de Entomologia Forense. A entomologia forense se aplica a inúmeras situações do cotidiano, que vão desde um simples caruncho em um saco de milho de pipoca, passam pelas traças devastando coleções de livros, que por sua vez se aliam às baratas e findam com os cupins destruindo documentos e antiguidades. Sem se falar, ainda, no seu uso em relação a produtos armazenados, grãos estocados, na lavoura; enfim, em todo e qualquer lugar, em que o dano ou a aparição de um inseto seja motivo de prejuízo, direto ou indireto, ou que, de certa maneira possa ser comprovadamente o nexo causal. Também se deve destacar, uma das mais importantes aplicações atuais da entomologia, através da qual determina-se o tempo de morte de um cadáver, independente de seu estado de decomposição. Nesse caso, os insetos (ou outros artrópodes) relacionados com um cadáver ou parte dele, atuam como indicador de tempo de morte (PMI). Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho de pesquisa teve por objetivo verificar quais são os insetos mais encontrados nos cadáveres, determinar em que fase da decomposição cadavérica os mesmos ocorrem, bem como analisar a viabilidade de uso dos mesmos para a determinação do tempo decorrido da morte. Para a investigação desse fato biológico, no presente trabalho foram utilizadas amostras coletadas sobre 200 cadáveres em diferentes estados de decomposição, que passaram pelo Instituto Médico Legal de Cuiabá, Estado do Mato Grosso, com causas da morte ¿não naturais¿. Para a inclusão dos cadáveres neste trabalho, não houve necessidade de se adotar quaisquer critérios específicos quanto à idade, sexo, altura, cor ou outro morfológico, visto que estes não influenciariam nos resul tados da pesquisa. As amostras consistem em ovos, estágios imaturos e adultos de diversos insetos. Para a análise das amostras em questão, utilizaram-se as tabelas de bioritmicidade e as técnicas do Grau- Hora-Acumulada (ADH). Todo material foi cuidadosamente coletado e processado no Laboratório de Odontolo-gia Legal da Faculdade de Odontologia de Pi racicaba - UNICAMP, bem como analisado tanto nos seus aspectos qual itativo quanto quantitativo, o que permitiu evidenciar as conclusões pretendidas. Atingido o seu termo, este trabalho de pesquisa científica permitiu concluir, através da metodologia empregada que, através da sucessão entomológica, é possível determinar em que fase a decomposição cadavérica se encontra, permitindo assim, determinar o tempo decorrido da morte / Abstract: The application of the study of the insects, acarids and other arthropods, to legal subjects, is denominated of Forensic Entomology. The forensic entomology is applies itself to countless situations of the daily life, since a simple little beetle in a sack of popcorn, they go by the moths desolating collections of books, that form an alliance with the cockroaches and join the termites destroying documents and antiquities for its time. Not to mention, therefore, its use in relation to stored products and grains, in the crop. Finally, in whole and any place, in which the damage or the appearance of an insect is reason for a damage, direct or indirect, or that, in a certain way can be really the causal connection. It should also highlight one of the most important current applications of the entomology, through which the time of death of a cadaver is determined, independent of its decomposition. In that case, the insects (or other arthropods) related to a cadaver or the leaves of it act as an indicator of the time of the death (PMI). In that context, the present research work has had for objective to verify which insects are mostly found in the cadavers, to determine in which phase of the cadaverous decomposition the same ones happen as wel l as to analyze the viabi lity of using of the same ones for the determining of the elapsed time of the death. For the investigation of that biological fact, in the present work samples collected on 200 cadavers in different decomposition phases, that have passed by the Legal Medical Institute of Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso were used. To include the corpse in this work, there were not any necessities of criteria like age, sex, high, color or other morphological evidence, because this one does not chance the results of the research. The samples consist of eggs, immature and adult apprenticeships of several insects. All material was collected carefully and processed in the Laboratory of Legal Dentistry of the Ability of Dentistry of Piracicaba¿UNICAMP, as well as analyzed not only in its qualitative but also in its quantitative aspects, what has allowed evidencing the intended conclusions. Reached its term, this work of scientific research has allowed ending, through the methodology used that, through the entomological succession, it is possible to determine in which phase the cadaverous decomposition is, allowing this way, to determine the elapsed time of the death / Mestrado / Mestre em Odontologia Legal e Deontologia

Forensic entomological field and laboratory studies were conducted to obtain data currently missing or conflicting in the literature. The first goal of this project was to identify and qualitatively assess the major taxa of forensic importance in southwest Virginia. Carcasses of the domestic pig, Sus scrofa L., were placed in field conditions and allowed to decompose until they reached the advanced stage of decay. Over 50 taxa were collected and identified, with Phormia regina, Phaenicia coeruleiviridis, Phaenicia sericata, Calliphora spp., Sarcophaga utilis, Musca domestica, Hydrotaea leucostoma, Stearibia nigriceps, Prochyliza xanthostoma, and Meroplius minutus among the most commonly observed fly species, and Creophilis maxillosus, Platydracus maculosus, Aleochara lata, Oiceoptoma noveboracense, Necrodes surinamensis, and Necrophila americana among the most commonly observed beetle species. The second objective of this study was to analyze successional patterns of taxa collected and identified in the carrion-insect succession studies. Occurrence matrices were constructed for the successional patterns of insect taxa during 21 sampling intervals in the spring and eight intervals in the summer studies. Permutation analyses of the occurrence matrices showed that the successional patterns of insect taxa were similar between spring 2001 and 2002 (P = 0.001) and between summer 2001 and 2002 (P = 0.007). Results indicated that the successional patterns appear to be typical for the seasonal periods. The third objective of this study was to analyze the effects of antemortem ingestion of ethanol by pigs on insect successional patterns and development rates. Pigs were dosed with a mixture of 95% ethanol and saline. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to euthanasia. The carcasses then were placed at an open field site and allowed to decompose. Insect samples were collected from carcasses for ten days post-mortem and the collected data were used to develop occurrence matrices. Permutation analysis to test the null hypothesis of no similarity between successional patterns of taxa from treated and untreated pigs showed that the successional patterns were similar. Loin meat from the carcasses was used as a rearing medium for field development studies of the black blow fly, Phormia regina. Development rates of 3rd instar P. regina maggots feeding on meat from treated pigs were significantly different from development rates of maggots feeding on meat from untreated pigs. No significant differences were detected in 1st and 2nd instars. Finally, the effect of relative humidity (RH) on egg hatch time and percent hatch rate of Phormia regina and Phaenicia coeruleiviridis was tested using saturated salt solutions. The global ANOVA of mean hatch times and percent hatch was found to be significant for P. regina at 20°C and 30°C and P. coerulieviridis at 20°C among RH levels at á = 0.05. T-test (LSD comparisons) results detected significant differences between some but not all RH levels within all three data series tested. Percent hatch observed varied widely, depending on the RH level. Of the levels tested, the lowest RH where hatch rate was observed was 53% (20°C) for P. coeruleiviridis, where only 1% of the eggs hatched. At 90+% RH, almost all of the eggs hatched for both species. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Studies were conducted on the effects of alcohol and opioids on the development of forensically important flies. In addition different methods of degree-day calculations and development thresholds were used to determine the effects on PMI estimates. The first study determined the effects of ethanol on the development of Phormia regina in vitro. Ground pork loin was treated with a 1, 5, or 10% ethanol solution to give an equivalent Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.01, 0.04, and 0.8 % w/v. A significant difference in the time for second instars to complete the stage was seen between the 1% treated and control. Significant differences were also found among pupal and adult weights between all treatments and the control. A significant difference was shown between growth curves of the 5% treated and control for third instar larvae using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The ethanol content of Phormia regina in migrating third instar larvae that fed on treated meat was examined using headspace-gas chromatography (HSGC). All larvae had a content of 0.01% w/v, including the control. The effects of ante-mortem injection of oxycodone in pigs were examined with respect to insect succession patterns and the development rates of Phormia regina. Pigs were given a subcutaneous injection of oxycodone hydrochloride (3 mg/kg by weight) and antemortem blood samples were collected prior to and following drug injection. Shortly after death the carcasses were placed at an open field site and allowed to decompose in a field cage. Insect samples were collected from carcasses for seven days post-mortem and the collected data were used to develop occurrence matrices. The Simple Matching Coefficient showed that successional patterns were similar between treated and untreated animals. Loin and liver from the carcasses were used as rearing media for in vitro development studies of Phormia regina. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed that third instar P. regina maggots from treated loin tissue were significantly longer in length than maggots feeding on untreated loin tissue. A significant difference in time was found among larvae on loin for the time from eclosion to completion of the second instar. Significant differences were seen in the weight of adults reared on liver and loin. A chi-square for homogeneity showed that adults were biased towards males (2:1) from untreated loin tissue. A final study compared weather data sources, Accumulated Degree-Day (ADD) methods, and postmortem interval (PMI) estimations based on threshold and developmental data source. Four pigs were used for statistical comparisons. Pigs were taken to a test site and allowed to decompose in an experimental cage. Probes recorded ambient temperatures and body temperatures. Maggot sampling was completed every day for each pig. A three way factorial linear fit model was used to test for statistical differences. Significant differences were seen in the calculated ADD based on probe location and the development threshold used. The ADD calculated from local weather station locations: Kentland Farm, Moore Farm, and Blacksburg Airport were also compared. A significant difference in ADD was found in the main effects among locations (Airport 44.1 ADD, Kentland 37.5 ADD, Moore 48.6 ADD), as well as among the thresholds used (10,12.2, and 14°C). Different PMI estimations also resulted when using development data from different development studies on Phormia regina. / Ph. D.

Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are among the most dominant and conspicuous insects in the decomposition process. They are important in forensic entomology to determine time of death and, in certain situations, cause of death or relocation of a body. Insects are now included as standard operating procedures in crime scene investigations in many countries, however, this is not standard procedure in the Caribbean area due to lack of knowledge of insects involved in cadaveric decomposition. Successful application of forensic entomology depends on solid underlying data. Our main goal is to advance the knowledge of Calliphoridae in the Caribbean to enable forensic entomology studies. We performed a mega-transect across the Caribbean and extensively collected flies attracted to rotten meat baits during five years from 2011 to 2015. Overall we collected 61,332 flies of which 34,650 were Calliphoridae. We sampled 16 of the 18 species of forensically important Caribbean Calliphoridae and three continental species. We determine the diversity and distribution of Calliphoridae in the Caribbean. We also present a thorough DNA barcode dataset, covering the geographic range of most species in the region. Finally we established phylogenetic relationships among Calliphoridae species and test biogeographical hypotheses, and patterns of diversification and endemism in the Caribbean. In sum, this is the most comprehensive study of the family Calliphoridae from the Caribbean that will open the door for future research on forensic entomology in the region.

Forensic medicocriminal entomology is used in the estimation of post-mortem intervals in death investigations, by means of arthropod succession patterns and the development rates of individual insect species. The purpose of this research was to determine arthropod succession patterns in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and compare the development rates of the dominant blowfly species (Protophormia terraenovae R.-D.) to another population collected in Oshawa, Ontario. Decomposition in Whitehorse occurred at a much slower rate than is expected for the summer season, and the singularly dominant blowfly species is not considered dominant or a primary colonizer in more southern regions. Development rates of P. terraenovae were determined for both fluctuating and two constant temperatures. Under natural fluctuating conditions, there was no significant difference in growth rate between studied biotypes. Results at repeated 10°C conditions varied, though neither biotype completed development indicating the published minimum development thresholds for this species are underestimated. / UOIT

Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) has great importance in forensics and is commonly utilized in estimating the period of insect activity (PIA) on a corpse due to its rapid colonization time of fresh remains, active oviposition during daylight, and its abundance throughout the southern United States. The purpose of this study is to determine what effects tissue and temperature will have on C. macellaria. The purpose of my secondary studies on attraction to larval resource is to gain insight into the behavior of adult blow flies in order to determine what factors drive colonization of remains. Forensic entomology can use development data of calliphorid flies to estimate their PIA on human remains. C. macellaria has major implications in medico-legal entomology as well as in veterinary entomology and are often found on human remains in Texas during the warm months of the year. Furthermore, C.macellaria is a secondary myiasis producer; this means that its larvae may be found infesting living animal or human muscle tissue and potentially could be involved in veterinary forensic cases. This study will help provide better insight on the behavior of C. macellaria in Texas as it relates to tissue type and temperature. In this experiment larvae were reared at three separate temperatures (21°C, 24°C, and 27°C) on either equine or porcine striated muscle tissues. Eggs were inoculated onto each tissue and monitored every hour for hatch. Once hatch occurred, observations were shifted to every twelve hours. Three larvae were sampled during each observation period. Sampled larvae were weighed and length was recorded. Additionally, stage of development was determined. Pupae were collected and time to adult emergence recorded. Furthermore, life-history traits, such as emergence pattern and adult longevity, were recorded. This study is the first in Texas and second in the United States to examine the development of C. macellaria and could provide significant information for cases of myiasis and neglect of both humans and animals. In contrast, rearing flies on beef liver or pork chops, which tends to be a standard procedure often employed may not be applicable to myiasis cases of equines. Data from this study could provide greater insight to developmental differences of forensically important blow flies on striated muscle from different vertebrate species. Since porcine tissue was used in the Florida study, it was also utilized in our study in order to allow a comparison. To date there is only one data set on the development of C. macellaria in the United States. Fly populations in different climates are suspected to have different development rates. This study will compare data from central Texas to data generated in Florida. If variation of development rates is demonstrated for different populations, then forensic entomologists should use data that are more conducive to their given geographic area. My secondary objective first looked at whether larval resource had an attraction effect on the subsequent adult C. macellaria flies. One cohort of larvae was reared on bovine testicles, while another was reared on bovine liver. The subsequent adults were then tested in a dual-choice olfactometer which possessed testicles at one end and liver at the other end. The second set of experiments also involved using a dual-choice olfactometer; however, all larvae were reared on bovine liver and fresh liver was placed at one end of the olfactometer, while fresh liver with conspecific larvae was placed at the end of the other. The purpose of this experiment was to assess whether adult C. macellaria flies were more attracted to the presence of conspecific larvae. These experiments will give us more insignt into adult blow fly behavior and help us to understand what factors drive colonization of remains.

Blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) interactions in decomposition ecology are well studied; however, the non-consumptive effects (NCE) of predators on the behavior and development of prey species have yet to be examined. The effects of these interactions and the resulting cascades in the ecosystem dynamics are important for species conservation and community structures. The resulting effects can impact the time of colonization (TOC) of remains for use in minimum post-mortem interval (mPMI) estimations. The development of the predacious blow fly, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) was examined and determined to be sensitive to muscle type reared on, and not temperatures exposed to. Development time is important in forensic investigations utilizing entomological evidence to help establish a mPMI. Validation of the laboratory-based development data was done through blind TOC calculations and comparisons with known TOC times to assess errors. A range of errors was observed, depending on the stage of development of the collected flies, for all methods tested with no one method providing the most accurate estimation. The NCE of the predator blow fly on prey blow fly, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) behavior and development were observed in the laboratory. Gravid female adult attraction was significantly greater to resources with predatory larvae rather than prey larvae and oviposition occurred on in the presence of heterospecific (predatory) and conspecific larvae equally. However, the life stages necessary for predation to occur never overlapped and so these results may not be as surprising as they seem. Conversely, exposing prey larvae to predator cues through larval excretions/secretions led to larger prey larvae and faster times to pupariation when appropriate life stages overlapped. Differences in size and development times of prey larvae in the presence of predatory cues could lead to errors when estimating the mPMI. These data also partially explain the ability of C. macellaria to survive in the presence of Ch. rufifacies. Colonization of a resource with late instar Ch. rufifacies enhanced development and size of resulting larvae indicating that lag colonization, rather than being a primary colonizer, could become an alternate strategy for C. macellaria to survive the selective pressures of the predator, Ch. rufifacies. The differing effects of temperature on Ch. rufifacies and C. macellaria may also lend an advantage to C. macellaria over the predacious Ch. rufifacies in an environment with variable temperatures unlike what Ch. rufifacies is adapted for.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Zoology & Entomology)) - Rhodes University, 2008.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Melbourne, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-172).