Development of Dermestes Maculatus at a Constant Temperature and Its Larval Instar Determination.
10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2019.491006
- Author:
Liang Liang LI
1
;
Yu WANG
2
;
Xue Bo LI
1
;
Jia Shuo ZHANG
1
;
Jiang Feng WANG
2
Author Information
1. Key Laboratory of Evidence-Identifying in Universities of Shandong, Shandong University of Political Science and Law, Jinan 250014, China.
2. Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, Jiangsu Province, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
forensic entomology;
skeletonized remains;
minimum postmortem interval;
instar determination;
Dermestes maculatus
- MeSH:
Animals;
Autopsy;
Coleoptera;
Larva;
Temperature
- From:
Journal of Forensic Medicine
2021;37(2):175-180
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective To establish the basic data for estimating minimum postmortem interval （PMImin） of heavily decayed and skeletonized remains by studying the development of Dermestes maculatus DeGeer （Coleoptera: Dermestidae）. Methods The developmental stages of Dermestes maculatus were observed at four constant temperatures of 20 ℃, 24 ℃, 28 ℃ and 32 ℃, and the changes in body length were also examined as the biological indicator to estimate larval day-age and instar. Results The total developmental time from egg to adult at 20 ℃, 24 ℃, 28 ℃ and 32 ℃ were （126.7±10.6） d, （69.4±8.2） d, （50.4±8.4） d and （49.6±6.5） d, respectively. The body length increased gradually, but changed irregularly as a whole. Conclusion The study provides basic data on the development and growth of Dermestes maculatus, especially on its developmental duration as a significant value for estimating PMImin of heavily decayed and skeletonized remains. Nevertheless, the change of body length is not found to be the best biological indicator for instar determination.
