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The Utility of Coleoptera in Forensic Investigations

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Current Concepts in Forensic Entomology

Abstract

Forensic entomology is a developing field of forensic science, so there are many avenues to investigate. These avenues include novel directions that have never been addressed, as well as more critical and rigorous research into areas which have already been explored. Most research in forensic entomology has focused on flies, and beetles (Coleoptera) have been at best under-emphasized. A good example of this is the review by Smith (1986), where 70 pages are dedicated to Diptera and only 12 to Coleoptera; this situation has changed little in the subsequent 20 years. To contextualize the neglect, throughout the world there are at least as many species of Coleoptera that may visit a particular carcass as Diptera (Braack 1986; Louw and van der Linde 1993; Bourel et al. 1999; Lopes de Carvalho et al. 2000; Pérez et al. 2005; Shea 2005; Watson and Carlton 2005a; Salazar 2006; Martinez et al. 2007). A common assumption underlying the neglect of Coleoptera is that Diptera locate corpses faster, and thus give a more accurate estimate of minimum Post Mortem Interval (PMImin). Recent observations (Midgley and Villet 2009b) have shown that Thanatophilus micans (Silphidae) can locate corpses and start breeding within 24 h of death, and thus the potential utility of estimates based on this species is equal to that of those based on flies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Terence Bellingan and Kendall Crous for assistance with laboratory work. Rhodes University funded the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa

    John M. Midgley, Cameron S. Richards & Martin H. Villet

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  1. John M. Midgley
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  2. Cameron S. Richards
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  3. Martin H. Villet
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. FB 16 Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, Frankfurt, 60596, Germany

    Jens Amendt

  2. Forensic Science Program, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Waialae Ave. 3140, Honolulu, 96816-1578, U.S.A.

    M.Lee Goff

  3. Dipto. Scienze per la Salute, Università Molise, Via De Sanctis, Campobasso, 86100, Italy

    Carlo P. Campobasso

  4. Pathologisch-Bakteriologisches Institut, Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Juchgasse 25, Wien, 1030, Austria

    Martin Grassberger

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Midgley, J.M., Richards, C.S., Villet, M.H. (2009). The Utility of Coleoptera in Forensic Investigations. In: Amendt, J., Goff, M., Campobasso, C., Grassberger, M. (eds) Current Concepts in Forensic Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9684-6_4

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