Determination of Species of Diptera Feeding on Carcasses and their Evaluation in Forensic Entomology in Kırıkkale Province

Abstract

Forensic Entomology, which is a branch of science in which insects and other arthropods are used in forensic cases, is a newly developing field in Turkey ,although it has been used effectively in Europe and the United States for nearly 50 years inthe investigation of violent crimes.Studies carried out in this area contribute to the establishment of literature,the development of scientists and the administration of justice.This study makes an analysis of the Diptera species and their seasonal distribution, using rabbit carcasses left on the campus of Kırıkkale University between May 2009 and March 2010. The rabbits, obtained from Ankara Refik Saydam Hıfzıssıhha Serum Production Farm, were killed and left to decompose in the study area, and species of the Diptera order were identified among the insects that infested the carcasses. A species identification was made of the collected Diptera eggs, larvae, pupae and adults, during which it was found that some larvae of the Diptera species that infested the carcasses were higher in number, being Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina of the Calliphoridae family. Aside from these, adult specimens were detected also of Calliphora vomitoria of the Calliphoridae family; Muscida stabulans, Musca domestica and Ophyra sp. of the Muscidae family; Sarcophaga crassipalpis, Wohlfahrtia magnifica and Sarcophaga carnaria of the Sarcophagidae family; and members of the Tachinidae Heleomysidae, Anthomyiidae, Piophilidae, Tabanidae, Syriphidae and Stratiomyidae families

Keywords

• Carcass, Diptera, Fauna, Forensic Entomology, Estimation of Post Mortem Interval