Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea

National Institute of Ecology (국립생태원)
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The Influence of Skinning a Carcass on Insect Succession and Decomposition

  • Received : 2022.09.08
  • Accepted : 2022.10.03
  • Published : 2022.11.01
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Abstract

Forensic entomology is a field of study that includes the succession of insects attracted to and found on cadavers. One of its main focusses is estimating post-mortem interval (PMI) based on the growth stage of insects found in and around human cadavers. In many countries, the diversity of insect occurrence is studied in relation to the environmental conditions a cadaver may be exposed to or the effects of different clothes. In this study, changes in the decomposition process and differences in insect succession were investigated by comparing skinned and intact water deer carcasses. Five orders, 15 families, and 21 species of insects were identified, most of which were Dipteran and Coleopteran. The skinned carcass decomposed more rapidly than the intact carcass, which was linked to differences in insect succession. The difference in the decomposition rate and insect succession according to the external conditions of the carcass can be used as basic data for estimating the PMI of the carcass and setting the forensic entomological indicator species.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (grant numbers 2013M3A9A5047052 and 2017M3A9A5048999). The Chungnam Wild Animal Rescue Center helped with the supply of carcasses.

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