This study examined pig carcasses buried at two different depths, 30 and 60 cm, to determine if insects are able to colonize buried carcasses, when they arrive at each depth, and what fauna are present over seven sampling dates to establish an insect succession database on buried carrion in East Lansing, Michigan. Thirty-eight pigs were buried, 18 at 30 cm and 20 at 60 cm. Four control carcasses were placed on the soil surface. Three replicates at each depth were exhumed after 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 30 days, and 60 days. One pig was also exhumed from 60 cm after 90 days and another after 120 days. Sarcophaga bullata (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and Hydrotaea sp. (Diptera: Muscidae) were found colonizing buried carrion 5 days after burial at 30 cm. Insect succession at 30 cm proceeded with flesh and muscid flies being the first to colonize, followed by blow flies. Insects were able to colonize carcasses at 60 cm and Hydrotaea sp. and Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae), were collected 7 days after burial. Insect succession at 60 cm did not proceed similarly as predicted, instead muscid and coffin flies were the only larvae collected. Overall these results reveal post-burial interval (PBI) estimates for forensic investigations in mid-Michigan during the summer, depending on climatic and soil conditions. The importance of these findings with respect to estimating a PBI for forensic investigations in a mid-Michigan location during the summer are discussed.
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