Carrion Fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larval Colonization of Sunlit and Shaded Pig Carcasses in West Virginia

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Carrion Fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larval Colonization of Sunlit and Shaded Pig Carcasses in West Virginia Forensic Science International 164 (2006) 183–192 www.elsevier.com/locate/forsciint Carrion fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larval colonization of sunlit and shaded pig carcasses in West Virginia, USA James E. Joy a,*, Nicole L. Liette b, Heather L. Harrah b a Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, One John Marshall Way, Huntington, WV 25755, USA b Department of Integrated Sciences and Technology, Marshall University, One John Marshall Way, Huntington, WV 25755, USA Received 4 February 2005; received in revised form 25 August 2005; accepted 11 January 2006 Available online 23 February 2006 Abstract Two pig (Sus scrofta L.) carcasses were placed in sunlit and shaded plots in September 2003, and again in May 2004. Mean ambient temperatures between sunlit and shaded plots were not significantly different in either September or May,but mean ambient temperatures at sunlit and shaded plots in 2004 were significantly higher than corresponding means for sunlit and shaded plots in 2003. Mean maggot mass temperatures were significantly higher than ambient plot temperatures for all four experimental plots (i.e., sunlit and shaded carcasses in both 2003 and 2004). In addition, maggot mass temperatures on sunlit carcasses were positively, and significantly, correlated with ambient temperatures, whereas there was no significant correlation between maggot mass and ambient temperatures at shaded plots. Carcass decomposition proceeded more rapidly in 2004 in the presence of higher ambient temperatures, and sunlit carcasses decomposed faster than shaded ones in both 2003 and 2004 experiments. Phaenecia coeruleiviridis (Macquart) and Phormia regina (Meigen) third instars dominated collections on all four carcasses, but there was little temporal overlap between these species with third instars of the former dominating collections in the early portion (40%) of each experimental period (with the exception of the shaded carcass in 2004 where both species were co-dominant), and the latter assuming dominance in the latter portion (60%). Lower accumulated degree hour values were calculated for instar development on 2004 carcasses subjected to higher ambient temperatures. # 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Forensic entomology; Postmortem interval; Phaenecia coeruleiviridis; Phormia regina 1. Introduction entomology is continuing, as evidenced by recent investiga- tions [11–13]. Medicocriminal entomology utilizes information derived A recent study of carrion fly development in West Virginia from either the temperature-dependent development of insects [11] was preceeded by investigations in nearby states of (primarily flies) or the succession of arthropods on human Tennessee [14,15], South Carolina [16,17], Virginia [18], Illinois corpses or animal carcasses to form an estimate of the time [19,20], Maryland [21], Missouri [22], and from Washington, DC elapsed since death, or postmortem interval (PMI) [1]. [23,24]. The purpose of the present investigation is to expand our Extensive coverage of the medicocriminal entomology understanding of carrion fly development by utilizing pig literature is available [2]. carcasses in sunlit and shaded field conditions at different times Laboratory studies under controlled temperature and/or light of the year (September and May). We have also sampled at conditions [3–9] have provided valuable information on the regular intervals, giving equal emphasis to daytime and nighttime development of carrion and flesh flies, but it is recognized that collections, to gain a more complete picture of larval field studies are necessary to gain a better insight on fly development in fluctuating ambient temperatures. development under variable climatic conditions. Indeed, the need for increased efforts in the field was recently emphasized [10]. Encouragingly, the desired field work in medicocriminal 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Study site and sample plots * Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 304 696 3639; fax: +1 304 696 7136. Two experimental plots were established at the Huntington, E-mail address: [email protected] (J.E. Joy). West Virginia Sanitary Landfill in Cabell County (N388250 and 0379-0738/$ – see front matter # 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.01.008 184 J.E. Joy et al. / Forensic Science International 164 (2006) 183–192 W828230, elevation 230 m). One plot was situated in the open 90 cm long  50 cm wide  40 cm high) supporting 2.5 cm (i.e., exposed to continuous sunlight during the day) on a hard hexnetting to prevent disturbance by scavengers. packed gravel substrate with a sparse amount of emergent Carcasses at both plots were examined every 6 h over a grasses; Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (common ragweed), 240 h experimental period for the presence of eggs and/or Festuca elatior L. (meadow fescue) and Melilotus sp. (sweet larvae of carrion flies. A sample of 50–75 larvae was collected clover). The second plot was situated 40 m from the first in a at the first appearance of instars and at subsequent 12 h intervals shaded area with a canopy of Cercis canadensis L. (red bud), with jeweler’s forceps or metal micro-spoon from different Acer negundo L. (box elder), Aesculus octandra Marsh (yellow areas (i.e., oral/nasal cavities, thoracic/abdominal cavities, anal buckeye) and Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) (tree-of-heaven), and a region) of each carcass. Larvae in these samples were killed in ground cover of Lonicera japonica Thumb. (Japanese the field immediately after collection by placing them in boiling honeysuckle), Eupatorium rugosum Houtt. (white snakeroot), water heated in a small (1 l) sauce pan over a butane camp Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) (Virginia creeper), and Geum stove. After killing, larvae were placed in appropriately labeled vernum (Raf) (spring avens). (hour from 0 h, sunlit or shaded carcass) bottles containing 70% ethanol. Larvae were then returned to the lab where the fixing 2.2. Experimental design and sampling methodology solution was decanted and replenished with fresh 70% ethanol. Ambient temperatures were recorded at 0 h, and at 6 h Two experimental periods were selected for the study; 5–14 intervals at both sunlit and shaded plots throughout the course September 2003 and 18–25 May 2004. On 11 July 2003 two of the 240 h experimental period (Figs. 1 and 2). Maggot mass pigs that had died of natural causes were double bagged in 50- temperature readings were first recorded at 36 h and continued gal plastic garbage bags immediately after death and frozen. at 6 h intervals as long as maggot masses were present (Figs. 1 Carcasses were thawed at room temperature (22 8C) for 72 h, and 2). All temperature readings were taken with a digital then weighed, prior to the beginning of the September thermometer to the nearest 0.1 8C. There was no precipitation experimental period. Carcasses were then transported to the during the course of the 2003 experimental period. experimental plots where they were removed from their The same general experimental procedure was followed for respective bags. One carcass (23 kg) was placed in the sunlit the May 2004 experiment, with two pigs that died of natural plot with the second carcass (24 kg) similarly located in the causes being frozen on 13 May 2004. The May 2004 shaded plot at 07:00 h (hour zero) on 5 September 2003. experiment differed in four respects: (1) the sunlit and shaded Carcasses were covered with a wooden frame (measuring pigs weighed 24 and 26 kg, respectively; (2) the experimental Figs. 1–4. Ambient (^) vs. maggot mass (&) temperatures (8C) recorded at experimental carcasses in 2003 and 2004. Amb Y03 and Amb D03 represent ambient temperatures at sunlit and shaded carcasses in 2003, respectively. Amb Y04 and Amb D04 are ambient temperatures at sunlit and shaded carcasses in 2004.MM denotes maggot mass temperatures for those respective experimental periods. An X-bar indicates mean temperatures for all ambient or maggot mass points in an experimental period. J.E. Joy et al. / Forensic Science International 164 (2006) 183–192 185 Table 1 Extrapolation method used to estimate ADH in the absence of a data logging system Hour September 2003 May 2004 Sunlit plot Shaded plot Sunlit plot Shaded plot Amb. (8C) Hourly rate Est. ADH Amb. (8C) Hourly rate Est. ADH Amb. (8C) Hourly rate Est. ADH Amb. (8C) Hourly rate Est. ADH 0 20.7 –021.8 –028.7 –026.4 –0 1 19.6 À1.10 19.6 20.5 À1.28 20.5 27.9 À0.83 27.9 26.1 À0.27 26.1 2 18.5 À1.10 38.1 19.2 À1.28 39.8 27.0 À0.83 54.9 25.9 À0.27 52.0 3 17.4 À1.10 55.5 18.0 À1.28 57.7 26.2 À0.83 81.1 25.6 À0.27 77.6 4 16.3 À1.10 71.8 16.7 À1.28 74.4 25.4 À0.83 106.5 25.3 À0.27 102.9 5 15.2 À1.10 87.0 15.4 À1.28 89.8 24.6 À0.83 131.1 25.1 À0.27 128.0 6 14.1 À1.10 101.1 14.1 À1.28 103.9 23.7 À0.83 154.8 24.8 À0.27 152.8 7 14.1 +0.017 115.2 14.0 À0.067 117.9 22.8 À0.88 177.6 23.7 À1.10 176.5 8 14.1 +0.017 129.3 14.0 À0.067 131.9 21.9 À0.88 199.5 22.6 À1.10 199.1 9 14.2 +0.017 143.5 13.9 À0.067 145.8 21.1 À0.88 220.6 21.5 À1.10 220.6 10 14.2 +0.017 157.7 13.8 À0.067 159.6 20.2 À0.88 240.8 20.4 À1.10 241.0 11 14.2 +0.017 171.9 13.8 À0.067 173.4 19.3 À0.88 260.1 19.3 À1.10 260.3 12 14.2 +0.017 186.1 13.7 À0.067 187.1 18.4 À0.88 278.5 18.2 À1.10 278.5 13 16.1 +1.85 202.2 15.6 +1.85 202.7 18.6 +0.17 297.0 18.3 +0.10 296.8 14 17.9 +1.85 220.1 17.4 +1.85 220.1 18.7 +0.17 315.8 18.4 +0.10 315.2 15 19.8 +1.85 239.9 19.3 +1.85 239.3 18.9 +0.17 334.7 18.5 +0.10 333.7 16 21.6 +1.85 261.5 21.1 +1.85 260.4 19.1 +0.17 353.8 18.6 +0.10 352.3 17 23.4 +1.85 284.9 23.0 +1.85 283.4 19.3 +0.17 373.0 18.7 +0.10 371.0 18 25.3 +1.85 310.2 24.8 +1.85 308.2 19.4 +0.17 392.4 18.8 +0.10 389.8 174 – – 3647 – – 3436 – – 4339 – – 4120 240 – – 5155 – – 4891 – – – – – – Actual ambient temperature readings recorded at 6 h intervals (e.g., at 6, 7–12, 13–18 h, etc.
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