Development, ecology and molecular species identification of corpse-associated calliphoridae (Diptera) - consequences for estimating the post-mortem interval [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Saskia Reibe

Development, Ecology and MolecularSpecies Identification of Corpse-AssociatedCalliphoridae (Diptera) - Consequences forEstimating the Post-Mortem IntervalDissertationzurErlangung des Doktorgrades (Dr. rer. nat.)derMathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät derRheinischen Friedrich-Wilhems-Universität BonnvorgelegtvonFrau Dipl.-Biol. Saskia ReibeausKölnBonn, 2010Angefertigt mit Genehmigung derMathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der RheinischenFriedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn1. Gutachter: Prof. Madea2. Gutachter: Prof. WägeleTag der Promotion: 1. Juni 2010AbstractForensic entomology is the application of entomological knowledge in processingforensic cases involving arthropod infested corpses. The question arising most fre-quently concerns the estimation of a post-mortem interval (PMI). This endeavourcan be approached in two different ways. Firstly, the succession of insect colo-nization can give reasonable evidence about the time interval of a decompositionperiod, as different species prefer different decomposition stages, which are relatedto temperature and time. Secondly, the age of the most developed blow fly larvae(Diptera: Calliphoridae) can indicate a minimum post-mortem interval since blowflies are usually the first colonizers on carcass. To calculate the age of blow fly larvaedeveloping on a corpse, their developmental progress has to be determined as accu-rately as possible.