Charabidze D, Hedouin V
Univ Lille Nord de France, UDSL, Forensic Taphonomy Unit, F-59000 Lille, France.
Univ Lille Nord de France, UDSL, Forensic Taphonomy Unit, F-59000 Lille, France.
Forensic Sci Int. 2014 Dec;245:63-4. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.10.015. Epub 2014 Oct 30.
Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a parasitoid of necrophagous blowflies. Its presence in a forensic entomology laboratory can be extremely damaging to samples and can compromise the PMI estimation. We describe for the first time a simple, safe and efficient trap to control N. vitripennis infestations. Adhesive tape is placed horizontally on windows to create an obstacle. Wasps go underneath until they reach the adhesive side of the tape and become stuck by their wings. This method is highly selective, costless and has been successfully used in our laboratory for years.