Forensic Entomology: Decomposing Pig Carrion and Its Associating Insect Fauna in Okija, Anambra State, Nigeria
[1]
Abajue Maduamaka C., Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
[2]
Ewuim Sylvanus C., Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Studies were conducted to ascertain the insects composition associated with decomposing pig carrions Susscrofa Linn., as models. The experiments were carried out in a fallow plot of land in Okija town of Anambra State, Nigeria. Both the adult insects and their larvae were collected at various decomposition stages of the carrions. Samples of the collected larvae were reared to adult stage in the laboratory. The adult insects were identified to species level. The species that are useful inforensic science include the Chrysomya albiceps Weid (Diptera: Calliphoridae), C. chloropyga Weid (Diptera; Calliphoridae), C. regalis Rob-Desv (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Isomyia dubiosa Villen (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Isomyia sp., Sarcophaga inzi Curran (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Chrysomyza africana Hendel (Diptera: Ulidiidae), Musca domestica Linn. (Diptera: Muscidae), Hermatiaillucens Linn. (Diptera: Stratiomyiidae), Dermestes frischii Kug (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), Necrobia rufipes Deg (Coleoptera: Cleridae) and Necrobia ruficolis Fab. (Coleoptera: Cleridae). The Usefulness of the insects in estimating minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) of carrions in relation to forensic science was discussed.
Forensic Entomology, Insects, Carrions, Decomposition Stages, Okija
[1]
Abajue, M. C., Ewuim, S. C. and Akunne, C. E. (2013). Insects Associated with Decomposing Pig Carrions in Okija, Anambra State, Nigeria. The Bioscientist, 1(1):54-59.
[2]
Abajue, M. C., Ewuim, S. C. and Akunne, C. E. (2014). Preliminary checklist of flies associated with pig carrions decomposition in Okija, Anambra State, Nigeria. Animal Research International, 11(1): 1899-1904.
[3]
Abajue, M. C. (2012). Insect fauna succession in relation to pig carrions in a fallow plot in Okija, Anambra State, M. Sc. thesis, Zoology Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Pp 107.
[4]
Amendt, J., Krettek, R. and Zehner, R. (2004). Forensic Entomology. Naturwissenschaften, 91:51-65.
[5]
Benecke, M. (2001). A brief history of forensic entomology. Forensic Science International, 120(1-2):2-14.
[6]
Campobasso, C. P., Gherardi, M., Caligara, M., Sironi, L. and Introna, F. (2004). Drug analysis in blowfly larvae and in human tissues: a comparative study. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 118(4):210-214.
[7]
Catts, E. P. and Goff, M. L. (1992). Forensic entomology in criminal investigation. Annual Review of Entomology, 37: 253–272.
[8]
Ekanem, M. S. (2008). Immature stages and developmental biology of two muscid flies (Cyclorrhapha Diptera), which breed in carrion in Southern Nigeria. The Zoologist, 6: 1–6.
[9]
Ekanem, M. S. and Dike, M. C. (2010). Arthropods succession on pig carcasses in southeastern Nigeria. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia, 50(35): 561–570.
[10]
Ekrakene, T. and Iloba, B. N. (2011). One death, many insects’ species yet one insect’s generation. Journal of Entomology, 8: 27–39.
[11]
Gennard, D. E. (2007). Forensic Entomology: An introduction. Wiley, New York. 224pp.
[12]
Gill, G. J. (2005). Decomposition and arthropod succession on above ground pig carrion in rural Manitoba. Technical report No 6 submitted to the Canadian Police Research Centre, 180pp.
[13]
Goff, M. L. and Lord, W. D. (2001). Entomotoxicology: insects as toxicological indicators and the impact of drugs and toxins on insect development. In: Byrd, J. H., Castner, J. L. (eds) Forensic entomology: the utility of arthropods in legal investigations. CRC, Boca Raton, Fla., pp 331-340.
[14]
Greenberg, B. and Kunich, J. C. (2002). Entomology and the Law: Flies as Forensic Indicators. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
[15]
Introna, F., Campobasso, C. P. and Goff, M. L. (2001). Entomotoxicology. Forensic Science International, 120:42-47.
[16]
Lord, W. D., Goff, M. L., Adkins, T. R and Haskell, N. (1993). The black soldier fly Hermetiailluscens (Diptera: Stratiomyiidae) as a potential measure of human postmortem interval: case history. Journal of Forensic Science, 39:215-222.
[17]
McKnight, B. E. (1981). The washing away of wrongs. Forensic Medicine in thirteenth century China. Ann. Arbor. Michigan, 187pp.
[18]
Okija-In-Home (2010). Abajue, C. B. (ed.), Okija the heritage of a people. Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, 142pp.
[19]
Okiwelu, S. N., Ikpamii, T. and Umezor, O. C. (2008). Arthropods associated with mammalian carcasses in Rivers State, Nigeria. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 11: 339-342.
[20]
Usua, E. J. (2007). Forensic entomology and humanity. Nigerian Journal of Entomology, 24:1-16.