Insect succession associated with corpse's decomposition of the guinea pig Cavia porcellus in Benha city, Egypt

Abstract

Eleven domestic guinea pig corpses were employed as models for studying decomposition and insect succession in Benha city, Egypt, from April 2009 to March 2010. Ambient temperature, faunistic succession over time, and the rate of decay in different seasons were all compared. Results indicated that ambient temperature is the chief factor determining the seasonal variations in decay rate. The diversity of insect community increased as the state of decomposition advances. Members of Dermistidae and Forrmicidae were the first coleopteran and hymenopteran colonizers in all seasons. Sarcophaga, Wholfortia and Chrysomya was observed in spring and summer. Meanwhile, species of Wholfortia were absent in winter and Crysomya species were absent in fall. Patterns of insect succession occurred in a predictable sequence that varied across different seasons. The rate of corpse's decomposition was faster in summer and autumn as compared to spring and winter