Tomberlin J K, Adler P H
Department of Entomology, Clemson University, SC 29634-0365, USA.
J Med Entomol. 1998 Sep;35(5):704-9. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/35.5.704.
Decomposition and insect colonization of rat, Rattus rattus L., carrion on land and in water were compared during summer and winter in a plowed field in northwestern South Carolina. During winter, carcasses on land reached the dried-remains stage of decomposition, whereas carcasses in water reached the early-floating stage. During summer, carcasses in both habitats entered the final-remains stage of decomposition in 1-2 wk. Fewer than 30 species of carrion insects were recorded from the carcasses over the duration of the study, probably reflecting the small size of the carcasses and the depauperate fauna of the habitat. Three species of blow flies--Cynomyopsis cadaverina (Robineau-Desvoidy), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, and Lucilia illustris (Meigen)--colonized carrion on land during winter, but no insects colonized carrion in water during winter. Two species of blow flies, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.) and Phaenicia sericata (Meigen), and 1 species of flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata Parker, colonized the carrion on land and in water during summer; the blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen), colonized only the carrion on land. This study demonstrated seasonal variation in decomposition and colonization patterns of carrion in contrasting habitats, with important implications for forensic entomology.
在南卡罗来纳州西北部一块耕地上，对褐家鼠（Rattus rattus L.）尸体在陆地和水中的分解以及昆虫定殖情况进行了夏季和冬季的比较研究。冬季时，陆地上的尸体进入了干尸分解阶段，而水中的尸体则处于早期漂浮阶段。夏季时，两个栖息地的尸体在1 - 2周内都进入了残骸最终阶段。在整个研究期间，从尸体上记录到的食腐昆虫不到30种，这可能反映了尸体体积较小以及栖息地动物种类匮乏。三种丽蝇——尸蓝蝇（Cynomyopsis cadaverina (Robineau - Desvoidy)）、红头丽蝇（Calliphora vicina Robineau - Desvoidy）和亮绿蝇（Lucilia illustris (Meigen)）——在冬季定殖于陆地上的尸体，但冬季时水中尸体没有昆虫定殖。两种丽蝇，嗜尸性麻蝇（Cochliomyia macellaria (F.)）和丝光绿蝇（Phaenicia sericata (Meigen)），以及一种肉蝇，棕尾别麻蝇（Sarcophaga bullata Parker），在夏季定殖于陆地和水中的尸体；黑尾黑麻蝇（Phormia regina (Meigen)）仅定殖于陆地上的尸体。这项研究证明了在不同栖息地中，尸体分解和定殖模式的季节变化，这对法医昆虫学具有重要意义。
