Phoretic mites and carcasses: Acari transported by organisms associated with animal and human decomposition

Abstract

Ephemeral and fluctuant, the fauna associated with a corpse provides a rich diversity of species. Several groups of arthropods are known to visit a carcass of a vertebrate at its various stages of decay; however, forensic investigations have so far been primarily limited to insects, focussing mainly on flies (Diptera) and beetles (Coleoptera) as often the largest and most persistent representatives. These insects might fly, walk or occasionally swim to reach the corpse and sooner or later abandon it in a similar way. Most will build transitional food webs that will lead to a faunal succession of species that will reflect the degree of decay under given environmental conditions.