Neonate pigs have been used as decomposition models in experimental forensic entomology studies. Their small size, however, poses challenges to traditional sampling methods of necrophilous insects, like the sweep net, the most commonly used sampling method in forensic entomology research and practice. Previous research experimentally demonstrated the potential for sticky traps as an effective sampling method for collecting necrophilous insects from neonate pigs. While sticky traps effectively sampled fly diversity from the pigs, they shared with the sweep net low sample diversity and abundance, particularly of necrophilous beetles. Motivated by chemosensory host-finding of necrophilous insects and the architecture of carrion-mimicking thermogenic flowers, we developed a ‘ventedchamber’ method and optimized its design experimentally. In this approach, a neonate pig was transiently enclosed in a chamber. The decomposition process thermally convected the natural decomposition odors in the headspace above the pig toward a pair of sticky traps. The vented-chamber method collected significantly more necrophilous flies, representing a greater diversity, than the sweep net. Nevertheless, this approach caught few beetles, and hand collections must be used as well to most effectively sample beetle diversity.
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4 September 2018
A Novel Passive Sampling Technique for Collecting Adult Necrophilous Insects Arriving at Neonate Pig Carcasses
Angela Cruise,
David W. Watson,
Coby Schal
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Environmental Entomology
Vol. 47 • No. 6
December 2018
Vol. 47 • No. 6
December 2018
biodiversity
ecology & behavior
forensic entomology
sampling