A review of the estimation of postmortem interval using forensic entomology.

The postmortem interval (PMI) is a crucial factor in death investigations. For PMIs exceeding 24 h the forensic pathologist must turn to other specialties that focus on decompositional ecology of animals, including humans. Primary among these specialties is forensic entomology.

Development Modeling of (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

A series of experiments were conducted on , a forensically important blow fly species, that met the requirements needed to create statistically valid development models. Experiments were conducted over 11 temperatures (7.5 to 32.

Thermal profiles of Cicindelidia haemorrhagica (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) activity in hot springs in Yellowstone National Park.

The wetsalts tiger beetle, Cicindelidia haemorrhagica (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), is found in several active thermal hot spring areas in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) where substrate surface temperatures can exceed 50 °C. However, relationships between surface temperatures and the time adults spend on them remain poorly understood. Therefore, we characterized thermal profiles of Dragon Spring and Rabbit Creek, 2 thermally active research sites containing C.

Heavy metal movement through insect food chains in pristine thermal springs of Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park thermal features regularly discharge various heavy metals and metalloids. These metals are taken up by microorganisms that often form mats in thermal springs. These microbial mats also serve as food sources for invertebrate assemblages.

Habitat Characteristics, Distribution, and Abundance of (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in Yellowstone National Park.

We observed the tiger beetle species, (LeConte), foraging in and reproducing near the thermal pools of Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Although this species was recorded in YNP more than 130 years ago, its distribution, ecology, and association with thermal features are unknown. Therefore, we examined the distribution and habitat characteristics of and evaluated methods for studying its abundance.

Trade-Offs between Temperature and Fitness in (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): Implications for Mass Rearing and Field Management.

The brown stink bug, (Fabricius, 1798) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is one of the most abundant soybean stink bug pests in Brazil. Temperature is a key factor that affects its development and reproduction, and fluctuating temperatures may impact the development and reproduction of differently from those under constant temperatures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of constant and fluctuating temperature on the biological characteristics of in three successive generations.

Stage Transitions in and (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Implications for Forensic Science.

Blow fly development rates have become a key factor in estimating the postmortem interval where blow flies are among the first decomposers to occur on a body. Because the use of blow fly development requires short time durations and high accuracy, stage transition distributions are essential for proper development modeling. However, detailed examinations of stage transitions are not available for any blow fly species.

Do patterns of insect mortality in temperate and tropical zones have broader implications for insect ecology and pest management?

Background: Understanding how biotic and abiotic factors affect insect mortality is crucial for both fundamental knowledge of population ecology and for successful pest management. However, because these factors are difficult to quantify and interpret, patterns and dynamics of insect mortality remain unclear, especially comparative mortality across climate zones. Life table analysis provides robust information for quantifying population mortality and population parameters.

Yield Response of Determinate Chipping Potato to Artificial Defoliation.

The relationship between canopy defoliation by insects and yield loss in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) has been extensively researched. However, detailed analysis of varieties with different properties and examination of methods of defoliation are still lacking.

Competition Among Three Forensically Important Blow Fly Species (Diptera: Calliphoridae): Phormia regina, Lucilia sericata, and Chrysomya rufifacies.

Avoiding competition is thought to explain insect successional patterns on carrion, but few studies have looked at competition directly. We use replacement series experiments with three species of blow flies: Phormia regina (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera:Calliphoridae), and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera:Calliphoridae) to characterize competitive relationships. From experimental results, P.

Photosynthesis, yield and raw material quality of sugarcane injured by multiple pests.

Understanding sugarcane ( spp.) response to multiple pest injury, sugarcane borer () and spittlebug (), is essential to make better management decisions. Moreover, the consequences of both pests on the sugarcane raw material quality have not yet been studied.

Tolerance: the forgotten child of plant resistance.

Plant resistance against insect herbivory has greatly focused on antibiosis, whereby the plant has a deleterious effect on the herbivore, and antixenosis, whereby the plant is able to direct the herbivore away from it. Although these two types of resistance may reduce injury and yield loss, they can produce selection pressures on insect herbivores that lead to pest resistance. Tolerance, on the other hand, is a more sustainable pest management strategy because it involves only a plant response and therefore does not cause evolution of resistance in target pest populations.

Cleaning Puparia for Forensic Analysis.

We tested procedures for removing adipocere from insect samples to allow identification. An acceptable procedure was determined: (i) Samples were sorted in petri dishes with 75% alcohol to remove any larvae, adult insects, or other soft-bodied material. (ii) Samples of up to 24 puparia were placed in a vial with 15 mL of 95% acetone, capped, and vortexed for a total of 30-90 sec in 10- to 15-sec bursts.

Curatorial implications of Ophyra capensis (Order Diptera, Family Muscidae) puparia recovered from the body of the Blessed Antonio Patrizi, Monticiano, Italy (Middle Ages).

The discovery of dipteran remains on mummified individuals can lead to either cause for curatorial concern or to a better understanding of the individual's post-mortem environment. The present study analyzed insect remains associated with the body of a unique medieval mummy of religious significance, that of the Blessed Antonio Patrizi da Monticiano. A total of 79 puparia were examined and all were identified as Ophyra capensis (Diptera: Muscidae).

Development modeling of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

The relationship between insect development and temperature has been well established and has a wide range of uses, including the use of blow flies for postmortem (PMI) interval estimations in death investigations. To use insects in estimating PMI, we must be able to determine the insect age at the time of discovery and backtrack to time of oviposition. Unfortunately, existing development models of forensically important insects are only linear approximations and do not take into account the curvilinear properties experienced at extreme temperatures.

Behavioral niche partitioning in a sympatric tiger beetle assemblage and implications for the endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle.

How behavioral patterns are related to niche partitioning is an important question in understanding how closely related species within ecological communities function. Behavioral niche partitioning associated with thermoregulation is well documented in tiger beetles as a group. Co-occurring species of salt flat tiger beetles have adapted many thermoregulatory behaviors to cope with this harsh ecosystem.

Changes in the morphology and presumptive chemistry of impact and pooled bloodstain patterns by Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Bloodstain pattern analysis can be critical to accurate crime scene reconstruction. However, bloodstain patterns can be altered in the presence of insects and can confound crime scene reconstruction. To address this problem, we conducted a series of controlled laboratory experiments to investigate the effect of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) on impact bloodstains and pooled bloodstains in association with three combinations of common surfaces (linoleum/painted drywall, wood floor/wallpaper, and carpet/wood paneling).

Carcass mass can influence rate of decomposition and release of ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen into gravesoil.

To investigate the use of ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen (NRN) in gravesoil to estimate early postmortem interval (PMI), we conducted an experiment to decompose swine (Sus scrofa) carcasses of contrasting mass (∼1 kg, ∼20 kg, ∼40 kg, ∼50 kg). Carcasses were placed on the soil surface during June 2007 to monitor mass loss and the concentration of gravesoil NRN over an interval of 15 days. Carcasses of a mass ≤ 20 kg decomposed more rapidly than larger carcasses.

Effect of investigator disturbance in experimental forensic entomology: carcass biomass loss and temperature.

Often carrion decomposition studies are conducted using a single carcass or a few carcasses sampled repeatedly through time to reveal trends in succession community composition. Measurements of biomass and other abiotic parameters (e.g.

Decomposed flesh as a vitellogenic protein source for the forensically important Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

For the carrion-feeding blow flies, a common source of vitellogenic protein are the carcasses that also serve as larval substrates. This attraction continues well after the blow flies have ceased to oviposit on the carrion, and it has been assumed that a decomposed cadaver remains a suitable source for vitellogenic protein; however, this assumption has never been tested. To test this hypothesis, blow flies (Lucilia sericata Meigen) were supplied with either fresh or decomposed beef liver as protein sources for vitellogenesis for 5 d.

Mortality risk in insects.

Understanding how and why insect numbers fluctuate through time and space has been a central theme in ecological research for more than a century. Life tables have been used to understand temporal and spatial patterns in insect numbers. In this study, we estimated cause-of-death probabilities for phytophagous insects using multiple decrement life tables and the irreplaceable mortality analytic technique.

Physiological and biochemical responses of resistant and susceptible wheat to injury by Russian wheat aphid.

We examined the physiological and biochemical responses of resistant ('Halt' and 'Prairie Red') and susceptible ('TAM 107') wheat, Triticum aestivum L., to injury by the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko). Photosynthetic capacity was evaluated by measuring assimilation/internal CO2 (A/Ci) curves, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll, and nonstructural carbohydrate content.

Maggot development during morgue storage and its effect on estimating the post-mortem interval.

When insect evidence is obtained during autopsy, forensic entomologists make decisions regarding the effects of low-temperature (-1 degrees C to 4 degrees C) storage of the body and associated insects when estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). To determine the effects of storage in a morgue cooler on the temperature of maggot masses, temperatures inside and outside of body bags containing a human cadaver and porcine cadavers (seven replicates) were measured during storage. Temperatures remained significantly higher (p<0.

An insect countermeasure impacts plant physiology: midrib vein cutting, defoliation and leaf photosynthesis.

One type of specialised herbivory receiving little study even though its importance has frequently been mentioned is vein cutting. We examined how injury to a leaf's midrib vein impairs gas exchange, whether impairment occurs downstream or upstream from injury, duration of impairment, compared the severity of midrib injury with non-midrib defoliation, and modelled how these two leaf injuries affect whole-leaf photosynthesis. Leaf gas exchange response to midrib injury was measured in five Asclepiadaceae (milkweed), one Apocynaceae (dogbane), one Polygonaceae and one Fabaceae species, which have been observed or reported to have midrib vein cutting injury in their habitats.

Physiological responses of resistant and susceptible buffalograsses to Blissus occiduus (Hemiptera: Blissidae) feeding.

The impact of Blissus occiduus Barber feeding on resistant ('Prestige') and susceptible ('378') buffalograsses, Buchloë dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann, was evaluated through measurement of carbon exchange rate, light and carbon assimilation (A-C(i)) curves, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and nonstructural carbohydrates. No significant differences in carbon exchange rates were observed between infested and control plants for 378 at 5 and 10 d after infestation; however, at 20 d after chinch bug introduction, significant differences in carbon exchange rates between infested and control 378 plants were detected. Carbon exchange rates were similar between infested and control Prestige plants at 5,10, and 20 d after infestation, suggesting that resistant plants can allocate energy for recovery from chinch bug injury.