The importance of Saprinus semistriatus (Coleoptera: Histeridae) for estimating the minimum post-mortem interval

•Presence of Saprinus semistriatus on hanging and ground pig cadavers.•S. semistriatus indicator for certain decomposition stage.•Forensic usefulness of S. semistriatus. In forensic science, the use of entomological evidence to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval can be crucial. However, not a...

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Published in:	Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 30; pp. 21 - 27
Main Authors:	Szelecz, I., Feddern, N., Seppey, C.V.W., Amendt, J., Mitchell, E.A.D.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Ireland Elsevier B.V 01-01-2018
Subjects:	Animals Autopsy Coleoptera - growth & development Decomposition stages Entomology Forensic entomology Forensic Pathology Hanging cadavers Models, Animal Post-mortem interval (PMI) indicators Postmortem Changes Pre-appearance interval (PAI) Swine Switzerland Pre-appearance interval (PAI) Decomposition stages Forensic entomology Post-mortem interval (PMI) indicators Hanging cadavers
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Summary:	•Presence of Saprinus semistriatus on hanging and ground pig cadavers.•S. semistriatus indicator for certain decomposition stage.•Forensic usefulness of S. semistriatus. In forensic science, the use of entomological evidence to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval can be crucial. However, not all cadaver-visiting insects are equally useful. Our focus is on the histerid beetle Saprinus semistriatus (Scriba 1790) (Histeridae; Coleoptera). Histeridae are common predators that feed mainly on dipteran larvae on carrion and dung. We review 23 publications mentioning this species and provide new experimental data on its temporal pattern beneath and on hanging pig cadavers. In a field experiment near Neuchâtel, Switzerland, we recorded the abundance of S. semistriatus on ten decomposing pig cadavers (Sus scrofa) over a 32-day period in summer 2013 (July, 01- August; 02). Five cadavers were placed on the ground and five cadavers were hung one metre above the ground. Insects were collected from pitfall traps and by manual sampling. The abundance of S. semistriatus was significantly higher during the active stage than during the fresh and the bloated stages of decomposition in both, ground and hanging pigs. However, S. semistriatus was more abundant on the ground than on the hanging cadavers. The literature and our new data show that S. semistriatus is present on cadavers during a relatively short period of time (approximately two weeks), mainly during the active decay stage, but it may also occasionally occur in the bloated stage. Identifying key indicators such as S. semistriatus can help optimise forensic research by focusing on the most informative taxa. A few key indicators for each decomposition stage may constitute an optimal toolbox for forensic entomologists.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1344-6223 1873-4162
DOI:	10.1016/j.legalmed.2017.10.011