Decomposition And Insect Succession Pattern Of Exposed Domestic Pig (Sus Scrofa L.) Carrion
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Date
2014
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ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science. Vol. 8, No. 11, pp 756-765
Abstract
Pig carrion decomposition and insect succession patterns were monitored in the dry and wet seasons at the University of Ghana, Legon in the Greater Accra Region. The sequence and composition of the local carrion visiting fauna, as well as, the rate of decomposition of the carrion and their determinant climatic factors were measured. The complete decomposition of the carrion lasted 16 and 24 days for dry and wet season, respectively. Five stages of decomposition of the cadaver namely the fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay and dry remains were observed. In total, 19 species of insects from 14 families: Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Dolichopodidae, Gasterophilidae, Formicidae, Histeridae, Dermestidae, Cleridae, Lycidae, Staphilinidae, Pyrrhocoridae, Saturniidae and Therevidae were collected. A few species from the family Ixodidae (Arachnidae) were also collected during the decomposition of the carrion. On account of their activity and frequency, the Calliphorid species, Lucilia rufifacies were the insects of greatest forensic importance. These blowflies were the early colonizers of the carrion in both seasons and remained throughout the decomposition process. Temperature, though important in controlling decomposition rates of carrion, could not account for the differences in decomposition rates observed between the two seasons. Rainfall delayed colonization of carrion during both seasons and this might have played a major role in the delayed rate of degradation observed during the wet season. The succession patterns were typical for the seasonal periods and provide data on baseline fauna important for estimating postmortem interval in cases of human death in Ghana.
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Keywords
pig carrion, insect succession, animal decomposition, forensic entomology, Ghana