STUDIES ON THE VARIATION OF FLIES SUCCESSIONS ON RABBIT'S CARRIONS AND ROLE OF THEIR MAGGOTS AS A POISONING INDICATOR

Abstract

The present study dealt with observations, descriptions, and documentation of the different decompositional stages and associated entomofauna of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus curicullus Linnaeus) as a good surrogate model to mimic decomposition of a human cadaver. Different experiments were carried out: 1. The 1st Experiment a. It was conducted during the spring season (24 April - 13 May 2016). b. Three rabbits (about 1500 gm each) were intoxicated with warfarin rodenticide (50 mg/Kg), while another three rabbits were asphyxiated via hanging (control/check group) to observe the normal decomposition process and its associated insects. Each rabbit was placed in a labeled cage at the roof of Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo and daily observed. c. Five stages of decomposition were observed for all carcasses, these were: Fresh, Bloated, Active decay, Advanced decay, and Skeletonization. Except for the fresh stage which showed similar durations (2 days) for both the control (C) and intoxicated (WI) carcasses, the other decomposition processes were insignificantly faster for (WI) than for (C) (P˃0.05). d. A total of 12481 individuals (immature and adult stages) were collected and classified into 7 orders Chapter 8 226 (Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Dermaptera, Zygentoma, Blattodea and Hemiptera), 28 families (Muscidae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Piophilidae, Psychodidae, Sphaeroceridae, Hippoboscidae, Fanniidae, Drosophilidae, Syrphidae, Phoridae, Scathophagidae, Ulidiidae, Dermestidae, Staphylinidae, Histeridae, Cleridae, Vespidae, Apidae, Formicidae, Braconidae, Pteromalidae, Cicadellidae, Evaniidae, Labiduridae, Lepismatidae, Blatellidae, Cydnidae) and 44 species: i. Diptera: Musca domestica, Musca sorbens, Muscina stabulanus, Stomoxys calcitrans, Synthesiomyia nudiseta, Helina coniformis, Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya r