Species richness of scavenger insects on different carcass types.

The type and amount of resources available significantly influences the structure and dynamics of food webs. In this study, we analyzed differences in species richness of scavengers based on carcass type in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We collected insects from experimental carcasses of three different types, domestic dogs (Canidae, Canis lupus familiaris), Hijazi goats (Bovidae, Capra aegagrus hircus), and camels (Camelidae, Camelus dromedarius). Data collection was conducted during the decay stage in June, 2016. We used mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) barcodes as a marker for the molecular identification of the scavenger insects. The results showed that there were more insects on the camels and goats than the dogs. In total, seven species were found on all carrions. Six species were found on the camels and goats, but only five were found on the dog. Musca domestica was the most collected species of flies whereas, Necrobia rufipes was the most collected species of beetles. Overall, this study showed that carrion type had an effect on the type and number of insects attracted to the carrions. Thus, one of the significant factors that influence the associated scavenger assemblage is a carcass type.

Species richness of scavenger insects on different carcass types

@#The type and amount of resources available significantly influences the structure and dynamics of food webs. In this study, we analyzed differences in species richness of scavengers based on carcass type in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We collected insects from experimental carcasses of three different types, domestic dogs (Canidae, Canis lupus familiaris), Hijazi goats (Bovidae, Capra aegagrus hircus), and camels (Camelidae, Camelus dromedarius). Data collection was conducted during the decay stage in June, 2016. We used mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) barcodes as a marker for the molecular identification of the scavenger insects. The results showed that there were more insects on the camels and goats than the dogs. In total, seven species were found on all carrions. Six species were found on the camels and goats, but only five were found on the dog. Musca domestica was the most collected species of flies whereas, Necrobia rufipes was the most collected species of beetles. Overall, this study showed that carrion type had an effect on the type and number of insects attracted to the carrions. Thus, one of the significant factors that influence the associated scavenger assemblage is a carcass type.

First Report of Necrophagous Insects on Human Corpses in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Necrophagous species of insects provide useful complementary data to estimate the postmortem interval in forensic cases. Here, for the first time, we report on insect specimens collected from human corpses in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the study, 14 beetle larvae were collected from the outdoor corpse (case report one) and five flies and seven beetles were collected from the indoor corpse (case report two). Sequencing was performed to study the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as the prospective basis of an identification technique. The sequencing focused on a section of the cytochrome oxidase I encoding region of mtDNA. Two beetle species, Dermestes frischii (Kugelann) and Dermestes maculatus (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), and one fly species, Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), were identified. These results will be instrumental in the implementation of a Saudi database of forensically relevant insects.

First record of Chrysomya saffranea (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic importance in India.

Many of the blow flies (Calliphoridae) are of economic importance because of their effects on public health and the economy by causing myiasis in human beings and animals. Blow flies are also, however, forensic bioindicators since they can be used to determine the Post-Mortem Interval (PMI). Chrysomya saffranea (Bigot 1877), a dipteran calliphoridae of forensic and economic importance is currently endemic and recorded only in Australia and New Guinea. Here, the occurrence of C. saffranea is reported for the first time from Aurangabad City, Maharashtra State in India. Fully grown third instar larvae of C. saffranea were collected from decaying cats. The larvae were reared under laboratory conditions and adult flies freshly emerged from pupae were collected and identified by their morphological features.

Spontaneous behavioral rhythms in the isolated CNS of insects - presenting new model systems.

Three new model systems for the study of rhythm generation in the isolated insect central nervous system are presented. Natural behavioral rhythms are produced in these cases spontaneously in the isolated CNS. They can be monitored as output of motoneurons at peripheral nerves. Recording from the neurons of the pattern generating networks during this output gives insight into neural control principles of locust respiration, of hemolymph pumping in accessory pumping organs of crickets, and of crawling movements in larvae of the weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.