Abstract

ABALLAY, Fernando. H; JOFRE, Fernando N  and  CENTENO, Néstor D. Asociación y estratificación de la entomofauna cadavérica a diferentes profundidades en el suelo como indicadores complementarios en largos intervalos post mortem. Rev. Mus. Argent. Cienc. Nat. [online]. 2017, vol.19, n.2, pp.225-234. ISSN 1853-0400.

In this study the composition of carrion entomofauna in the ground below the carcas one month after the death was examined, identifying strata and associations to different ground depths. Three carcasses were examined: two horses and a cow, placed in sandy soil during the spring, summer and autumn in a natural environment in Mendoza. Soil samples were taken from ground surface every 10 cm below the corpse up to a depth of 60 cm. A total of 11,452 specimens (8,576 in autumn, 2,339 in summer, and 537 in spring), belonging to 24 different species belonging to 11 families was collected. Indicator species allowed differentiation of strata in sampled soil under corpses. In spring a first stratum was defined with pupae of Piophila casei (Linnaeus) (Piophilidae) between the surface and 30cm depth and a second stratum was defined at a depth between 40 to 60cm with pupae of a species of Phoridae and eggs of Histeridae. In summer only one stratum was defined by the abundance of puparia of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Calliphoridae), located between the surface and 30cm depth. In autumn only one stratum was determined by larvae of Dermestes maculatus De Geer (Dermestidae) located between the surface and 20cm depth. The entomological composition varies with depth and between seasons, abundance was higher on the surface. Calliphoridae and Dermestidae were associated with superficial layers and the genera Euspilotus Lewis (Histeridae) and Omorgus Erichson (Trogidae) to deeper layers of the soil.

Keywords : Cadaveric entomofauna; Association; Stratification; Soil; Long PMI.