Insect faunal succession and development of forensically important flies on deer carcasses in Southwest Virginia

Forensic entomology is a powerful component of many law enforcement agencies’ investigations into wrongful death. The use of forensic entomology in wildlife law enforcement is still a developing area even though the concepts used are parallel to those applied to human investigations. Recent research has explored the application of forensic entomology techniques to investigations of wildlife poaching. To accumulate baseline data for future reference in poaching investigations, studies of insect faunal succession were conducted on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman) in southwest Virginia during the summers of 2009 and 2010. This documentation will enable conservation police officers to collect and observe insects during their investigations and construct long-term post mortem interval (PMI) estimations. To accumulate the reference data necessary for short term PMI estimation, simultaneous laboratory rearing of the forensically important black blowfly (Phormia regina Meigen) on either venison or pork was performed in the summer of 2010. The development rates of P. regina were recorded after rearing at 30°C and a 14:10 hour (Light: Dark) lighting schedule. Currently, protocols suggest rearing maggots on store bought medium, either pork or beef. Differences in nutritional composition between wild venison and store-bought pork loin may be reason enough to change current rearing protocols. Additional regional and wildlife species-specific studies can increase the utility of forensic entomology in wildlife forensics and bolster the effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement.