Successional Analysis Ofcalliphoridae (Diptera2 Using Domestic Pig in Grassland (Cogua,Cundinamarca,Colombia)

Abstract

The first step to estimate the post-mortem interval is the identification of species of insects found on carcasses. Blowflies are an important portion of the insect species in forensic researches. Here, we evaluated the succession of blowfly species associated with pig carcasses (Sus scrofa) on pastures of Cogua (Cundinamarca). The blowflies were collected during seven months after the deposit of carcasses using Schoenly modified traps and the traditional methodology. We collected 970 specimens of five blowfly species, where the most common species were Compsomyiops verena and Chrysomya albiceps. The variations in abundance per species were coincident with each decay stages; we found the highest abundances at the beginning and at the end of the bloated stage. When we contrasted the results of both methodologies, we found that Schoenly traps presented the highest efficacy of adult's collection in comparison with the traditional methodology; however, we collected the majority of immature stages using the traditional methodology. The importance of blowflies as an adequate group to obtain the post-mortem interval was confirmed; the sequence of species helps to delimit the different stages of the cadaveric decomposition. Additionally, we confirmed the efficacy and complementary of the Schoenly trap in this kind of forensic studies.