Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of Thanatophilus sinuatus Fabricius Coleoptera: Silphidae to Selected Cadaveric Volatile Organic Compounds

• NCJ Number: 246140
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2013 Pages: 917-923
• Author(s): Jessica Dekeirsschieter Ph.D.; Christine Frederickx Ph.D; Georges Lognay Ph.D.; Yves Brostaux Ph.D.; Francois J. Verheggen Ph.D.; Eric Haubruge Ph.D.
• Date Published: July 2013
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Soon after death, carcasses release volatile chemicals that attract carrion insects including Silphidae.

Abstract

Soon after death, carcasses release volatile chemicals that attract carrion insects including Silphidae. Nevertheless, it is not known which chemical cues are involved in the attractiveness of the carcass. So far, little information is available on the chemical ecology of carrion beetles, particularly concerning the subfamily of Silphinae. The biological role of selected cadaveric volatile organic compounds including dimethyldisulfide DMDS, butan-1-ol, n-butanoic acid, indole, phenol, p-cresol, putrescine, and cadaverine on the silphine species, Thanatophilus sinuatus Fabricius, was investigated using both electrophysiological and behavioral techniques. Among the tested cadaveric compounds, butan-1-ol and DMDS elicited the strongest electroantennography EAG from both T. sinuatus male and female antennae. In a two-arm olfactometer, males and females were significantly attracted to DMDS for both tested doses, whereas only males were attracted to p-cresol at 100 ng. Putrescine was repellent to males at the dose of 1 ìg. Abstract published by arrangement with Wiley.