02102nas a2200205   4500008004100000245012400041210006900165490001900234520142000253653002001673653001801693653002401711653002201735653001401757100002301771700001801794700001601812700001601828856005201844       2011                        eng d00aCarrion beetles visiting pig carcasses during early spring in urban, forest and agricultural biotopes of Western Europe0 aCarrion beetles visiting pig carcasses during early spring in ur0 v11, Article 733 aCarrion beetles are important in terrestrial ecosystems, consuming dead mammals and promoting
the recycling of organic matter into ecosystems. Most forensic studies are focused on succession
of Diptera while neglecting Coleoptera. So far, little information is available on carrion beetles
postmortem colonization and decomposition process in temperate biogeoclimatic countries.
These beetles are however part of the entomofaunal colonization of a dead body. Forensic
entomologists need databases concerning the distribution, ecology and phenology of
necrophagous insects, including silphids. Forensic entomology uses pig carcasses to surrogate
human decomposition and to investigate entomofaunal succession. However, few studies have
been conducted in Europe on large carcasses. The work reported here monitored the presence of
the carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) on decaying pig carcasses in three selected biotopes
(forest, crop field, urban site) at the beginning of spring. Seven species of Silphidae were
recorded: Nicrophorus humator (Gleditsch), Nicrophorus vespillo (L.), Nicrophorus vespilloides
(Herbst), Necrodes littoralis L., Oiceoptoma thoracica L., Thanatophilus sinuatus (Fabricius),
Thanatophilus rugosus (L.). All of these species were caught in the forest biotope, and all but O.
thoracica were caught in the agricultural biotope. No silphids were caught in the urban site.10acarrion ecology10adecomposition10aforensic entomology10ainsect succession10aSilphidae1 aDekeirsschieter, J1 aVerheggen, FJ1 aHaubruge, E1 aBrostaux, Y  uhttps://cholevidae.myspecies.info/hr/node/10397