ABSTRACT

The objective was to determine the decomposition process and forensically important Calliphoridae (Diptera) succession on dog carrcass during one year.

This study was conducted from June 2009 to June 2010 in three different area of Samsun province, Turkey. One dog’s carcass (Canis lupus familiaris L.), weighing 15-20 kg, was placed in each area during each season (total 12 carcasses, per year). Ambient daily temperature (maximum and minimum), relative humidity (RH) were recorded and existing keys were used for identification of different species.

Lucillia sericata (Meigen), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus) and Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) species were encountered. It was shown that the seasonal distribution of the collected species was different from each other. Chrysomya albiceps was observed in summer, auntumn and spring. In the spring and winter, the dominant fly species were Calliphora vicina. The rate of decomposition of carcass was faster in summer and autumn as compared to spring and winter. Results indicated that ambient temperature is the chief factor determining the seasonal variations in decay rate.

This report also identified some of the Calliphoridae that occur in north of Turkey. The importance of regional faunistic studies of the calliphoridous community, the results of which may be applied to forensic practice in the future.

Keywords: Forensic entomology, Insect succession, Corpse, Postmortem interval, Decomposition