Carrion Insects and Their Application to Forensic Investigations in Richmond, NSW with Particular Reference to Significant Coleoptera
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Carrion insects and their application to forensic investigations in Richmond, NSW with particular reference to significant Coleoptera Jocelyn Ellen King BSc (Forensic Science), BSc (Hons) Submitted in fulfilment of requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Submitted to the School of Science and Health University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury Campus December, 2012 Acknowledgements I am extremely indebted to my primary supervisor Robert Spooner-Hart for all his helpful advice and support over the years. Robert has provided me with the most wonderful opportunity to learn and conduct research in a supportive and encouraging environment. I will be forever thankful and grateful for the guidance and foundation he has provided. I would like to also thank my secondary supervisors, Markus Riegler for introducing me to DNA analysis, phylogenetics, and all his help, support, and encouragement in this area, and to Richard Thomas for assisting me with the collection of piglet carcasses and providing me with the fantastic opportunity to assist in teaching the practical component of his undergraduate units, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Many thanks go to Dave Britton, Chris Reid, and Derek Smith of the Australian Museum for allowing me to view the entomology collection for identification of species as well as the loan of unidentified Saprinus specimens. I also wish to thank Cate Lemann for her assistance at the Australian National Insect Collection and the loan of Saprinus and other Saprininae specimens. I would also like to thank Oleg Nicetic (University of Queensland) for assistance with the statistical analysis and to David McLeod (Boen Boe Stud, Joadja) for supplying the still-born piglets used in this study. I would like to extend a massive thank you to my parents Jackie and Steve and my sister Nicole for their help and support, for encouraging me to follow my interests and along with my friend Courtney for occasionally keeping me company when collecting insects. I wish to also include my two beautiful dogs, Athena and Eragon, for always helping me to continually laugh and smile. Many thanks also go to the other PhD students and academics from S12, in particular Jenny Shanks (including the Extatosoma tiaratum that had become postgrad mascots), Megan Halcroft, Hang Dao, Sahar Van Dyk, and Jennifer Morrow for all the advice and suggestions that they were only too happy to provide over the years. As the recipient of an Australian Postgraduate Award I would like to thank the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education for providing me with the opportunity to complete a PhD. I would also like to thank University of Western Sydney and the (now defunct) Centre for Plants and the Environment for their top-up awards and conference funding to present aspects of Chapter 4 at the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) 20th International Symposium on the Forensic Sciences, Sydney 2010. I wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) through two student travel bursaries which allowed me to present aspects of Chapter 5 at the 3rd Combined Australian and New Zealand Entomological Societies Conference, Christchurch NZ 2011 and aspects of Chapter 6 at the 43rd Australian Entomological Society Conference, Hobart 2012. I have found the Australian Faunal Directory (produced by the ABRS) an invaluable resource for naming authorities of species and identifying synonyms of many species from older studies, and without it I would have been lost. Statement of authentication The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original except as acknowledged in the text. I hereby declare that I have not submitted this material, either in full or in part, for a degree at this or any other institution. .............................................. Jocelyn King December, 2012 Table of contents List of tables ............................................................................................................... ix List of figures ............................................................................................................ xii Abbreviations ........................................................................................................... xv Biosafety ................................................................................................................... xvi Abstract ................................................................................................................... xvii Chapter 1: Introduction and literature review ....................................................... 1 1.1: Introduction and significance ........................................................................... 2 1.1.1: Introduction ............................................................................................. 2 1.1.2: Significance ............................................................................................. 5 1.2: Scope ................................................................................................................ 6 1.3: Carrion-associated insects in Australia ............................................................ 8 1.3.1: Blattodea (cockroaches) .......................................................................... 8 1.3.2: Coleoptera (beetles) ................................................................................. 8 Carabidae (ground beetles) .................................................................................................... 8 Cleridae (ham beetles) ......................................................................................................... 11 Dermestidae (dermestid beetles) ......................................................................................... 11 Histeridae (histerid beetles) ................................................................................................. 12 Leiodidae (round fungus beetles) ........................................................................................ 12 Scarabaeidae (scarab beetles) .............................................................................................. 12 Silphidae (carrion beetles) ................................................................................................... 13 Staphylinidae (rove beetles) ................................................................................................ 14 Trogidae (carcass beetles) ................................................................................................... 14 1.3.3: Dermaptera (earwigs) ............................................................................ 14 1.3.4: Diptera (flies) ......................................................................................... 14 Calliphoridae (blowflies) ..................................................................................................... 14 Fanniidae ............................................................................................................................. 16 Muscidae (muscid flies) ...................................................................................................... 16 Phoridae (scuttle or coffin flies) .......................................................................................... 17 Piophilidae (cheese flies)..................................................................................................... 17 Sarcophagidae (flesh flies) .................................................................................................. 17 Sepsidae (black scavenger flies) .......................................................................................... 18 i Sphaeroceridae (small dung flies or minute scavenger flies) .............................................. 18 Stratiomyidae (soldier flies) ................................................................................................ 18 1.3.5: Hymenoptera ......................................................................................... 19 Chalcididae .......................................................................................................................... 19 Diapriidae ............................................................................................................................ 19 Formicidae (Ants) ............................................................................................................... 19 Pteromalidae ........................................................................................................................ 19 Vespidae .............................................................................................................................. 20 1.3.6: Lepidoptera ............................................................................................ 20 Tineidae (fungus and clothes moths) ................................................................................... 20 1.4: Factors affecting colonisation and succession of carrion insects ................... 20 1.4.1: Geography ............................................................................................. 20 1.4.2: Season .................................................................................................... 22 Diapause .............................................................................................................................. 23 1.4.3: Habitat ..................................................................................................