G Model RBE 45 1–3 ARTICLE IN PRESS Revista Brasileira de Entomologia xxx (2015) xxx–xxx 1 REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE 2 Entomologia A Journal on Insect Diversity and Evolution w ww.rbentomologia.com Short Communication 3 Record of postmortem injuries caused by the Neotropical social wasp 4 Agelaia fulvofasciata (Degeer) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) on pig 5 carcasses in the Eastern Amazon region: implications in 6 forensic taphonomy a,∗ a b c 7 Q1 Rodrigo R. Barbosa , Cesar Carric¸ o , Raimundo N.P. Souto , Sergio R. Andena , d d 8 Alexandre Ururahy-Rodrigues , Margareth M.C. Queiroz a 9 Q2 Programa de Pós-Graduac¸ ão em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil b 10 Laboratório de Artrópodes, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Macapá, AP, Brazil c 11 Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil d 12 Laboratório de Transmissores de Leishmanioses, Fundac¸ ão Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 13 a b s t r a c t 14 a r t i c l e i n f o 15 16 Article history: Postmortem injuries are a source of misinterpretations in forensic analysis and therefore are subject mat- 17 Received 29 January 2015 ter of taphonomic interest. Many types of injuries can cause different artifacts, which deserve attention 18 Accepted 8 May 2015 of the forensic pathologists when evaluating corpses, either at the crime scene or during an autopsy. 19 Available online xxx Insects can be important biotaphonomic agents and their activity may result in artifacts that resemble 20 Associate Editor: Rodrigo Krüger antemortem injuries. Here, we describe postmortem injuries caused by the Neotropical wasp Agelaia 21 fulvofasciata (Degeer, 1773) on domestic pig carcasses weighting 15 kg. The specimens showed extensive 22 Keywords: injuries to the lower lip, similar to lacerations, and some minor lesions on the snout and anus. In addi- 23 Autopsy tion, we observed the same wasp species preying on larvae of Sarcophagidae (Peckia sp.). Besides causing 24 Forensic Entomology 25 Savanna postmortem injuries, the ability of this species to detect carcasses in the early and fresh decomposition stages should be noted. Thus, future applications aiming criminal, any biotaphonomic events caused by carrion insects need to be disclosed. © 2015 Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. on behalf of Sociedade Brasileira de Entomologia. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). 26Q3 The origin and the age of injuries found on corpses may be or death. There are records of postmortem injuries caused by rats, 41 27 important to help diagnose of causa mortis in forensic analysis hamsters and dogs in corpses found indoors (Ropohl et al., 1995; 42 28 (Kondo et al., 1999; Cecchi, 2010). Many types of injuries can cause Tsokos and Schulz, 1999; Roger et al., 2002). Scavenger species, 43 29 different artifacts, which deserve attention of the forensic pathol- however, are more frequently reported feeding on corpses placed 44 30 ogists when evaluating corpses, either at the crime scene or during in open field due to its easy access (Asamura et al., 2004). 45 31 an autopsy (Ohshima, 2000). Reports in the literature describe the Many taxa of arthropods, especially fly larvae and beetles, pro- 46 32 way that both vertebrates and/or invertebrates may change a crime duce surface and internal injuries, not always easily detected by 47 33 scene. These animals, usually, take off parts of the tissue, modi- forensic pathologists (Roger et al., 2002; Amendt et al., 2007). 48 34 fying the pattern, size and shape of the injuries related or not to Additionally, other arthropods, which are not usually found on 49 35 the death and also cause postmortem injuries playing an impor- decomposing corpses, may also cause postmortem injuries. Such 50 36 tant role as biotaphonomic agents (Patel, 1994; Roger et al., 2002; injuries may confuse pathologists in terms of the nature and 51 37 Ururahy-Rodrigues et al., 2008). Even some pets may cause injuries chronology of the injury, due to similarities with the antemortem 52 38 or deform corpses when they are the only food source (Tsokos and injuries (Denic et al., 1997; Roger et al., 2002; Campobasso et al., 53 39 Schulz, 1999; Roger et al., 2002). Extension of injuries and/or bite 2009). Postmortem injuries caused by Formicidae (Hymenoptera) 54 40 patterns may infer in defining which animal caused the initial injury have been extensively recorded (Byard, 2005; Campobasso et al., 55 2009); however, reports concerning lesions caused by Vespidae are 56 rarely seen in a forensic context. 57 ∗ The presence of Polistinae wasps, which includes the genus 58 Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] (R.R. Barbosa). Agelaia (Lepeletier, 1836), on decomposing animals is common 59 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rbe.2015.07.004 0085-5626/© 2015 Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. on behalf of Sociedade Brasileira de Entomologia. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Please cite this article in press as: Barbosa, R.R., et al. Record of postmortem injuries caused by the Neotropical social wasp Agelaia fulvofasciata (Degeer) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) on pig carcasses in the Eastern Amazon region: implications in forensic taphonomy. Rev. Brasil. Entomol. (2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rbe.2015.07.004 G Model RBE 45 1–3 ARTICLE IN PRESS 2 R.R. Barbosa et al. / Revista Brasileira de Entomologia xxx (2015) xxx–xxx Fig. 3. Arrow pointing postmortem injuries (artifacts) produced by biotaphonomic activity of Agelaia fulvofasciata. Fig. 1. Habitus in lateral view of social wasp Agelaia fulvofasciata. 60 (Jeanne et al., 1995; O’Donnell, 1995; Gomes et al., 2007; Moretti approximately 4 cm in diameter and 2.5 cm in depth, and some 88 61 et al., 2008; Noll and Gomes, 2009; Moretti et al., 2011). The minor lesions on the snout and anus (Fig. 3). On the second post- 89 62 Agelaia genus has 33 species that are widely distributed in the mortem day, the wasps were no longer feeding on the carcass due 90 63 Neotropical region, extending from northern Argentina to Mex- to active decomposition; they were, however, preying on larvae of 91 64 ico and are known for their necrophagous habits and as predators Sarcophagidae (Peckia sp.). In addition, the injuries were the first 92 65 of other insects (Carpenter, 1993). In Brazil 15 species have been places colonized by the larvae of Calliphoridae and Sarcophagi- 93 66 recorded. Only recently researchers pointed out the use of social dae. Sixty-seven specimens of A. fulvofasciata were collected, 53 94 67 wasps in forensic analysis. There are no published records, how- from the Gallery Forest and 14 from the Amazonian Savanna. In 95 68 ever, of postmortem injuries caused by these wasps (Gomes et al., both areas, the activity of these specimens occurred from the fresh 96 69 2007; Moretti et al., 2008). Here, we report postmortem injuries stage until the active decay (2–4 days of PMI). In the Savanna area, 97 70 caused by the Neotropical swarm-forming wasp Agelaia fulvofas- specimens were sampled but predation or necrophagy were not 98 71 ciata (Degeer, 1773) on domestic pig carcasses in northern Brazil registered. 99 72 pointing out their biotaphonomic importance. Agelaia fulvofasciata, widely distributed in the Amazon region, 100 73 The study was carried out in Macapá capital of Amapá State, is known locally as “caba de peixe” (fish wasp) and is often seen 101 74 Northeast Brazil. Domestic pig (Sus scrofa, L.) carcasses weight- in popular markets feeding on fish carcasses (O’Donnell 1995; Sil- Q4 102 75 ing 15 kg from a pig farm were used as experimental models for veira et al., 1995; Silveira et al., 2005, 2008). Moreover, due to its 103 76 decomposition. The experiment was conducted during the dry sea- aggressive behavior, sting accidents are common and very painful 104 77 son (20–27 November 2011) in two different phytophysiognomies: (Galvão et al., 2005). Records of necrophagy by other species of Age- 105 ◦ ◦ 78 Amazonian Savanna (00 12 38.87 N, 51 07 27.41 W) and Gallery laia (A. pallipes and A. vicina) have been reported in Brazil but only 106 ◦ ◦ 79 Forest (00 12 35.01 N, 51 07 24.79 W). The decomposition of the in the Southeast region; however injuries such as those described 107 80 carcasses and the entomofauna activity were recorded daily. Spec- herein have not yet been reported (Silveira et al., 2005; Gomes et al., 108 81 imens of A. fulvofasciata were collected directly from the carcasses 2007; Moretti et al., 2008; Oliveira-Costa and Celino, 2011). Thus, 109 82 with an entomological net and in traps as described by Barbosa et al. besides causing postmortem injuries, this species is able to detect 110 83 (2009). carcasses in the early decomposition stage, which demonstrates 111 84 Specimens of A. fulvofasciata (Fig. 1) were observed grouped their forensic importance as biotaphonomic agents. 112 85 in the oral, ocular and anal regions of the pig model one day Carrion insects are useful in the elucidation of the cause of 113 86 of postmortem (Fig. 2). The wasps took parts of the tissue from death and in cases of neglect (Catts and Goff, 1992; Benecke, 2001). 114 87 the lower lip causing injuries, similar to lacerations, measuring These biotaphonomic agents, however, may cause confusion when 115 a corpse is being examined as they can produce injuries capable of 116 misleading forensic examiners due to the nature and the age of the 117 lesion, especially when such insects are not found on the corpse at 118 the time of discovery (Patel, 1994; Denic et al., 1997).