Effect of Temperature on the Survival and Development of Three Forensically Relevant Dermestes Species (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Most Dermestes species (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) are scavengers during both larval and adult stages, with a preference for dry organic matter. Because of this, Dermestes beetles are potentially useful indicators in forensic investigations concerning skeletonized and mummified human remains. However,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical entomology 2017-09, Vol.54 (5), p.1140-1150
Main Authors: Martín-Vega, Daniel, Díaz-Aranda, Luisa M., Baz, Arturo, Cifrián, Blanca
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Beetles
Coleoptera
Coleoptera - growth & development
Dermestes
Dermestes maculatus
Dermestes undulatus
Dermestidae
DEVELOPMENT, LIFE HISTORY
dry remain
Forensic engineering
forensic entomology
Forensic science
Forensic Sciences
Instars
Low temperature
Metamorphosis, Biological
Organic matter
postmortem interval
Pupae
skeletonization
Skin
Species
stored product
Substrates
Survival
Survival Analysis
Swine
Temperature
Temperature effects
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Summary:Most Dermestes species (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) are scavengers during both larval and adult stages, with a preference for dry organic matter. Because of this, Dermestes beetles are potentially useful indicators in forensic investigations concerning skeletonized and mummified human remains. However, there is a paucity of reference developmental data on most forensically relevant Dermestes species. This study analyses the effect of five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C) on the survival and developmental rates of three of the forensically most relevant dermestids: Dermestes frischii Kugelan, Dermestes maculatus De Geer, and Dermestes undulatus Brahm. Pig skin was used as rearing substrate, to use a substrate as similar as possible to that exploited in nature. Overall, the temperature had a significant effect on the survival and the duration of development, with optimal values at intermediate temperatures. Both D. frischii and D. maculatus showed similar developmental rates and the shortest developmental times at 30 °C, whereas D. undulatus developed faster at lower temperatures. At 15 °C, both D. frischii and D. undulatus did not oviposit, whereas no D. maculatus individuals survived beyond the pupal stage. An inconsistent number of larval instars per individual were observed across different constant temperatures in the three species. The present study aims to provide baseline developmental data for further advances in the potential use of Dermestes beetles as forensic tools in long postmortem interval cases.
ISSN:0022-2585
1938-2928
DOI:10.1093/jme/tjx110