• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1168-1175
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• 2011

This study was carried out to offer forensic entomological evidence to estimate the post mortem interval (PMI) based on the arthropod succession in pig carrions and carrion decomposition patterns varying with the exposed extent of the carrions. Four carrions, exposed, wrapped, covered or shaded, were placed in an open grassland near the Nakdong-river in Busan in August, 2010. It was found that the first visiting insect was Chrysomyia megacephala among a total of 20 species of 15 families belonging to 7 orders of Insecta, and that four species were useful indicators of the decomposition stage of the carrion: C. megacephala for I~V stages; a species of Sepsidae, Creophilus maxillosus and a species of Carabidae for III~V stages. It was also found that the more the exposed extent of exposure of carrions, the higher the rate of decomposition of carrions, i. e. the time for decomposition of carrions were 7days for the exposed carrion, 10days for the covered one, 13days for the shaded one, and 15days for the wrapped one. This result seems to be related to the differences in the weight loss of carrions caused by strong rains during the research period and by the accessibility of insects to the carrions; both are strongly affected by the exposed extent of the carrions. Accordingly, it was suggested that the exposed extent of the carrions must be taken into consideration to estimate the PMI.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.204-211
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• 2022

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.