Silphidae - Forensic Research

Forensic Research

Silphidae are one of several families of forensic importance in the order Coleoptera. They are a very important tool in determining a post-mortem interval by collecting Silphid progeny from the carcass, and determining the developmental rate. Based on the number of instars present and what stage of development they are in, a time of death can be estimated. This is very useful in medicocriminal entomology, the emphasis on utilizing arthropods as evidence to aid in solving crimes. Many of the methods in determining stages of development are subjective. Fortunately, recent studies have found a new way of determining what stage of development Silphid larvae are in by measuring the maximum cranial width and other heavily sclerotized areas of the larvae instead of measuring just the length, which is subject to change with each larva, particularly in O.inaequale and N. surinamensis, which are more robust and have greater variations of length respectively. In terms of future research, Silphidae are being studied to find more exact PMI estimations and possible manners of death. Also, in the future, entomologists will explore the social behavior of the beetles to a greater degree. Members of family Silphidae are typically the first of the coleopterans to come in contact with carrion. Silphidae larvae are opportunistic predators that will feed on dipteran eggs, larvae, and on the carcass itself. This presents a problem in the determination of post-mortem interval (PMI) because Silphidae are known to eradicate other species from carrion. By eliminating the first colonizing species Silphidae can give an incorrect PMI.