Decomposition patterns in terrestrial and intertidal habitats on Oahu Island and Coconut Island, Hawaii

Decomposition studies were conducted at two sites on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, to compare patterns of decomposition and arthropod invasion in intertidal and adjacent terrestrial habitats. The animal model used was the domestic pig. One site was on Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay on the northeast side of Oahu, and the second was conducted in an anchialine pool located at Barber's Point Naval Air Station on the southwest shore of Oahu. At both sites, the terrestrial animal decomposed in a manner similar to what has been observed in previous studies in terrestrial habitats on the island of Oahu. Rate of biomass depletion was slower in both intertidal studies, and decomposition was primarily due to tide and wave activity and bacterial decomposition. No permanent colonization of carcasses by insects was seen for the intertidal carcass at Coconut Island. At the anchialine pool at Barber's Point Naval Air Station, Diptera larvae were responsible for biomass removal until the carcass was reduced below the water line and, from that point on, bacterial action was the means of decomposition. Marine and terrestrial scavengers were present at both sites although their impact on decomposition was negligible. Five stages of decomposition were recognized for the intertidal sites: fresh, buoyant/floating, deterioration/disintegration, buoyant remains, and scattered skeletal.     

Determination of drug levels in two species of necrophagous Coleoptera reared on substrates containing morphine

Two species of necrophagous Coleoptera: Dermestes frischi (Dermestidae) and Thanatophilus sinuatus (Silphidae), were reared on substrates containing different amounts of morphine. Colonies of D. frischi were reared on rabbit carcasses which had been given 10, 20, and 40 mg/h of morphine hydrochloride via ear artery perfusion over a 3 h period prior to death. A fourth rabbit served as a control. T. sinuatus was reared on minced beef spiked with morphine hydrochloride to give concentrations of 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000 ng/g and one control colony. These dosages were calculated to create tissue concentrations of morphine similar to those encountered in human deaths due to morphine overdose. Larvae. pupae, and adults (except for T. sinuatus) were analyzed for morphine content. All developmental stages of D. frischi were positive for morphine and concentrations correlated with cadaveric tissue concentrations during larval stages and to a lesser extent in the adult stage. For T. sinuatus, the best correlations were found in 2nd and 3rd instar larvae. This study demonstrates the potential for use of necrophagous Coleoptera, as well as Diptera larvae, as alternate specimens for toxicological analyses.     

School and Family Factors Predicting Adolescent Cognition Regarding Bystander Intervention in Response to Bullying and Victim Retaliation

Journal of Youth and Adolescence - Youth aggression occurs at high rates. Aggressive acts can be curbed through bystander intervention; yet, little is known about school and family factors that...     

Presence of fecal material in diapers as a potential source of error in estimations of postmortem interval using arthropod development rates.

Second instar larvae of the fly Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera, Calliphoridae) were recovered from the diapers of a 16-month-old child abandoned by her mother on Oahu, Hawaii. The development of these larvae indicated a minimum period of 23.5 h of exposure prior to discovery of the child. Larvae of this species of fly are not normally associated with living tissues in Hawaii, but rather with feces and remains during the early stages of decomposition. Had the child in this case died and data not been provided detailing the site of infestation, the postmortem interval estimated would have been significantly longer than was actually the case, because of the development of the larvae inside the diapers of the living child. The need for caution in cases involving deaths of infants, the elderly, and individuals not capable of caring for themselves is stressed.     

Preliminary observations of the effect of methamphetamine in decomposing tissues on the development rate of Parasarcophaga ruficornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and implications of this effect on the estimations of postmortem intervals.

Larvae of Parasarcophaga ruficornis (Fabricius) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) were reared on tissues from rabbits administered different dosages of methamphetamine to study the effects of this drug on development of this species. The rabbits were given 37.5, 71.4, and 142.9 mg of methamphetamine via ear vein infusion. From Hours 30 to 60, larvae feeding on tissues from rabbits receiving 71.4 and 142.9 mg of methamphetamine developed more rapidly than larvae from the control colony and those feeding on tissues from the rabbit receiving 37.5 mg of methamphetamine. The time required for pupariation was significantly greater for colonies fed on tissues from methamphetamine-dosed rabbits than for the control. These differences were sufficient to alter postmortem interval estimates based on larval development by up to 18 h and estimates based on puparial development by up to 48 h. The presence of methamphetamine or amphetamine could not be detected in Diptera larvae in this experiment using radioimmunoassay techniques, as there was a nonspecific reaction, resulting in a false positive.     

Comparison of insect species associated with decomposing remains recovered inside dwellings and outdoors on the island of Oahu, Hawaii

A comparison of insects collected from 35 cases of decomposing remains on the island of Oahu, Hawaiian Islands (14 from indoor situations and 21 from outdoors), yielded a total of 22 species of insects in 3 orders and 12 families. Of these, five species were recovered in both indoor and outdoor situations. Remains recovered indoors had a greater variety of Diptera larvae associated with them, while remains discovered outdoors had a greater variety of Coleoptera species present. Some species of insects were restricted to remains discovered indoors, while others were found only associated with remains in outdoor situations. Knowledge of the species of insects associated with different habitats may serve to provide information concerning the history of the remains.     

Detection of organophosphate poisoning in a putrefying body by analyzing arthropod larvae

Deaths as a result of organophosphate poisoning are usually detected by analysis of body fluids and tissues for the presence of the toxic agent. These procedures present particular difficulties when performed on remains in an advanced stage of decomposition. Malathion poisoning was suspected in a case in which the remains were in an advanced stage of decomposition and the presence of malathion was confirmed by analyses of gastric content and body fat. Two species of fly larvae, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart), were present on the remains. A sample of these larvae was analyzed for malathion content. A total of 574 micrograms of malathion was detected in 0.26 g of pooled larvae, or a level corresponding to 2050 micrograms/g of larvae. Presence of organophosphates in arthropod larvae has not been documented previously and the analysis of larvae from decomposing remains may prove a useful technique for detection of these toxicants in decomposing remains.