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Forensic Insects of Skeleton Acres

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Forensic Insects of Skeleton Acres Forensic Insects of Skeleton Acres PREPARATION: Read: Michaud, et al. 2010. Natural and anthropogenic changes in the insect fauna associated with carcasses in the North American Maritime lowlands. Forensic Sci. Int. Read: Watson, E.J. 2004. Faunal succession of necrophilous insects associated with high-profile wildlife carcasses in Louisiana, Chapter 1 (pp. 1-22). Louisiana State University Dissertation. Read about the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index at: http://chs.carlsbadusd.k12.ca.us/DeCino/Webpage/APES/shannonlab.htm Learn about forensic entomology: http://www.forensicentomology.com/index.html View the video “Crime 360: Forensic Tools: Forensic Entomology”: http://www.aetv.com/crime-360/video/index.jsp?bcpid=1463371098&bclid=1459293923&bctid=1468221853 MATERIALS: 50’ transect tape 10 pitfall traps, carrion, flags, moist sand Datasheets 5 containers for pitfall trap samples (with preservative) 10 collecting vials for flies Tray for sorting, long forceps, hand lenses GOAL: Comparison of the composition of the carrion-feeding beetle guild along a creek bed versus on the prairie. RATIONALE: Data relating directly to successional patterns, development rates, and species composition of necrophilous insects on wildlife carcasses in Kansas are limited, unpublished, or lacking entirely. The Department of Anthropology at Wichita State University uses “Skeleton Acres” to study forensic anthropology. Data collected will help to address our gap of knowledge related to insect forensics. BACKGROUND: In the last two decades, the incorporation of entomological research has become extremely valuable in determining the postmortem interval (PMI) of homicides, suicides, and other unattended deaths. The same entomological criteria used to estimate time of death of humans are also applicable for determining PMI of animal carcasses with the purposes of providing valuable information to law enforcement with the goal of incriminating poachers. Necrophilous (i.e., carrion - frequenting) insects are little studied within forensic science. There is a great deal of regional variability due to species compositions, habitat composition, and weather variables. More data are necessary for more reliable use of insects in forensic science. Many insects make their living on carrion — they are the “garbagemen” of the natural world. Without these insects, our world would be littered with dead and decaying animals. They break-down dead animals into their constituent parts and recycle them. Carrion insects are useful in human homicide cases because they assist in determining the PMI, place of death, and if the body has been moved. Insects are equally important in PMI of poached animal carcasses. Competition at a carcass is fierce, so insects arrive as soon as putrification begins. Early arrivals at a carcass tend to be beetles that specialize in carrion or those that feed on fly larvae. These include the carrion beetles (Silphidae; larvae feed exclusively on carrion) as well as hister beetles (Histeridae) and rove beetles (Staphylinidae) whose adults feed on fly larvae, pupae, and eggs. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) are attracted to large carcasses, especially to the intestine of herbivorous mammals. Late-arriving species tend to be specialist scavengers that feed on tougher parts like skin and tendons as the body dries out. The dominant late stage scavengers include hide beetles (Dermestidae) and skin beetles (Trogidae). Trogids and dermestids have enzymes necessary for breaking down keratin, a protein component of hair and fingernails. We will use the Shannon-Wiener Diversity index to compare the diversity between two communities at Skeleton Acres. Unlike a rapid assessment technique (like the Index of Biotic Integrity), diversity indices record more accurate point data. Data are more easily pooled and experiments are more easily repeatable. Studies set up to calculate diversity indices are, however, more time intensive. The Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H) is used in biology and ecology. It measures the rarity and commonness of species in a community. H values are compared, and the higher number indicates a higher community diversity. Related indices include Richness (S) (the total number of species in the community) and Evenness (E) (the measure of relative abundance of different species in an area). 2 The Simpson Diversity Index (D): D = S pi computes richness. Evenness is computed as follows (E): E = H / ln( S ) . 1 PROCEDURE: Two transect lines in each habitat (creek bed and the prairie) have been installed at Skeleton Acres. Each transect line has pitfall traps that are placed 15 m apart. The pitfall trap consists of 0.5 l container buried in the ground so that the top of the container is level with surface of the ground. About 4 oz. moist sand was placed in bottom of container. The trap is baited with one dead mouse. Chicken wire placed over top of trap and staked in four corners. Each trap is marked with a flag. Work in teams of five. Team leaders should assign one person to record GPS locations for each trap and take a digital image of the habitat (see #2); one person to sweep traps for flies and collect flies (see #2); two people to sort and identify contents of the trap (see #3); and one person to record the species and abundance data collected from the trap (see #3-4) .One group of students will gather data at the prairie transect and the other will gather data at the creek bed transect. At each transect, each group will perform the following: 1. Record habitat and weather data prior to examining contents of the traps. These data can be supplemented with climatic data from the Kansas Office of State Climatology for the duration of each study. If you were recording data for a human or wildlife carcass, documentation on the internal temperature (core temperature) would be required using a 12.7 cm stem metal thermometer inserted deep into the ribcage. Carcass temperature, including the generated maggot mass heat, should be recorded until skeletonization occurs. 2. Check each trap. At each trap, record the GPS latitude and longitude and take a digital image of the surrounding habitat. On first approach to the trap, perform an aerial sweep to collect adult flies above the trap. Place the fly specimens in a collecting container and label it according to the trap number and transect. The trap number should be include transect line (prairie “PR”; creek “CR”), trap number (1-5), and date. An example is: “PR-3-VII-21-2011” (= Prairie transect, trap #3, July 21, 2011). 3. Examine the trap. Remove the trap and remove the larger insects first. Record the number of individuals of each species on the datasheet. Use the guide to identify species or the lowest taxonomic group possible. Record abundance and species for carrion beetles (Silphidae), dung beetles (Scarabaeidae), skin beetles (Trogidae), rove beetles (Staphylinidae), hister beetles (Histeridae), and hide beetles (Dermestidae). After the larger insects are removed and placed in the labeled collecting container, then dump the contents of the trap on the sorting tray. Record abundance and species for these individuals as well, then place specimens in the labeled collecting container. Identify the species and record the number for each trap. 4. After you have satisfactorially identified and collected all specimens in the trap, invert the trap so that no further insects can be trapped in it. Leave the flag and the trap in their location for future research. 5. Identification for most of these insect groups requires dissection of internal characters. Keys for species in some groups are not available to species (e.g., some genera of Staphylinidae), thus only the genus will be recorded. Voucher specimens will be placed in the WSU Biological Field Station insect collection. All specimens will be identified and curated to establish a reference collection. The reference collection will provide the basis for which a diagnostic tool will be established as well as to confirm identification and repeatability. These research tasks will not be the responsibility of the group during the lab exercise. If you wish to learn more about these processes, please talk with me. If you were collecting data for a forensics case, other data that would be important include: 1) Exposure of the carcass (open air, burial/depth, clothing entire or partial, nude (portion of body), description of clothing, type of debris on body) 2) Stage of decomposition (fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay, saponification, mummification) 3) Dismemberment 4) Evidence of scavengers 5) Possible traumatic injury sites 2 Forensic Insects Guide (Beetles) Silphidae: Carrion beetles Left to right: Necrodes surinamensis, Necrophila americana , Nicrophorus orbicollis, Nicrophorus tomentosus, Oiceoptoma novaboracense Silphid beetles are scavengers of carrion. About 20 different species of silphids occur in Kansas. The genus Nicrophorus buries carrion thus preventing infestation by flies. The endangered American Burying Beetle is a member of the Silphidae. This species historically occurred in Kansas as far west as Wichita, and populations recently have been recorded in the southeastern counties of the state. Extant populations of this endangered species are widely scattered and may be associated with pristine habitats. The decline of the American Burying Beetle may be associated with the extinction of the passenger pigeon. Adults provide parental care to their larvae, something that is unusual among the insects. Keys are available to all American species. Scarabaeidae: Dung Beetles Left to right: Phaneus vindex, Onthophagus species, Canthon pilularius, Copris species The World dung beetle fauna includes slightly over 5,000 described species in 234 genera, with close to 1,800 of these species belonging to the genus Onthophagus. Although many species feed on mammalian dung, others specialize to varying degrees upon the dung of other vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as on carrion, mushrooms, rotting fruit, and other decomposing plant material. Adults of some species are ball-rollers, and they shape carrion or dung into balls that are rolled away and buried at a distance from the food source.
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