NCJ Number
203130
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 48 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2003 Pages: 1133-1143
Date Published
September 2003
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on a study of insect faunal succession on decaying rabbit carcasses conducted at Punjabi University in Patiala (Punjab), India, from March 1997 to December 1999.
Abstract
The outdoor study sites on the campus were selected to ensure unhindered accessibility of the carrion to various kinds of insects, to facilitate observations two or three times daily, and to prevent any disturbance by humans or other animals. Seventeen experiments were conducted to cover all seasons of Punjab. Rabbits of approximately the same weight (1-1.2 kg) were killed by cervical dislocation to minimize bleeding and pain to the animal, and a cage was designed to protect the carcasses from vertebrate scavengers. The process of rabbit decomposition was divided into four stages: fresh, bloated, decay, and dry. A total of 38 insect species that belonged to 4 orders and 13 families were observed, recorded, and identified on the rabbit carcasses. The maximum number of 24 species was collected at different stages of decay during spring season, compared to only 12 and 17 species during winter and summer months, respectively. Diptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera dominated the carrion fauna during the investigations. This is consistent with most of the previous studies of carrion decomposition. Ten species of muscid, 8 species of beetles, and 8 species of ants were also recorded on the carcasses in different seasons. A few spiders were also collected during the rainy and autumn seasons, although they have not been identified. The findings of this study will provide basic information on the carrion fauna of the study area and will form the basis for similar studies in various geographical and climatological regions of India. 4 tables, 5 figures, and 33 references