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Open Access 01-09-2020 | Case Report

A mummified human corpse and associated insects of forensic importance in indoor conditions

Authors: Marcin Kadej, Łukasz Szleszkowski, Agata Thannhäuser, Tomasz Jurek

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 5/2020

Abstract

We report, for the first time from Poland, the presence of Dermestes haemorrhoidalis (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on a mummified human corpse found in a flat (Lower Silesia province, south-western Poland). Different life stages of D. haemorrhoidalis were gathered from the cadaver, and the signs of activity of these beetles (i.e. frass) were observed. On the basis of these facts, we concluded that the decedent, whose remains were discovered in the flat on 13 December 2018, died no later than the summer of 2018, with a strong probability that death occurred even earlier (2016 or 2017). A case history, autopsy findings, and entomological observations are provided. The presence of larvae of Dermestidae in the empty puparia of flies is reported for the first time. A list of the invertebrate species found in the corpse is provided, compared with available data, and briefly discussed.

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Title: A mummified human corpse and associated insects of forensic importance in indoor conditions
Authors: Marcin Kadej
Łukasz Szleszkowski
Agata Thannhäuser
Tomasz Jurek
Publication date: 01-09-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 5/2020
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02373-2

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A mummified human corpse and associated insects of forensic importance in indoor conditions

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