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. 2024 Mar;138(2):677-683.
doi: 10.1007/s00414-023-03023-z. Epub 2023 May 22.

First record of Diamesus osculans (Vigors, 1825) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) colonization on a human corpse

Tania Ivorra  1 , Razuin Rahimi  2   3 , Thary Gazi Goh  4 , Nurul Azmiera  5 , Natasha Azmi Nur-Aliah  5 , Van Lun Low  6 , Chong Chin Heo  5   7
Affiliations

First record of Diamesus osculans (Vigors, 1825) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) colonization on a human corpse

Tania Ivorra et al. Int J Legal Med. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

A partially skeletonized human corpse was found in bushes in Selangor, Malaysia in June 2020. Entomological evidence was collected during the autopsy and sent to the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) for minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) analysis. Standard protocols were applied when processing preserved and live insect specimens of both larval and pupal stages. Entomological evidence revealed that the corpse was colonized by Chrysomya nigripes Aubertin, 1932 (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Diamesus osculans (Vigors, 1825) (Coleoptera: Silphidae). Chrysomya nigripes was chosen as the PMImin indicator as this fly species is an earlier colonizer compared to D. osculans beetle larvae which their presence is the indicative of late stage of decomposition. For the present case, the pupae of C. nigripes were the oldest insect evidence collected and based on the available developmental data, the estimated minimum PMI was established between 9 and 12 days. It is noteworthy to highlight that this is the first record of D. osculans colonization on a human corpse.

Keywords: Carrion beetle; Diamesus osculans; Forensic entomology; Silphidae.

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