Natural Resources, School of
School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
2024
Citation
International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology (2024) 7(2): 000575
RS-5132
doi: 10.23880/izab-16000575
Abstract
That Dermestes maculatus feeding can leave marks on bones is established in the literature - that D. maculatus routinely mark bones is not. Our results here, exposing fleshed bones to D. maculatus adults and immatures for almost two months after complete tissue removal, indicate that under natural conditions D. maculatus do not feed on bones. The key issue seems to be the ability of D. maculatus to seek new food sources versus being confined (and eventually starving) on bones. In a natural setting, once a food supply is exhausted, D. maculatus would seek new food sources. If this process is somehow interrupted, such as through placement of an infested body in a sealed container or experimentally over a long (months to a year) period, D. maculatus could feed on bone. Based on this conclusion, whether in forensics analysis or paleontological analysis, we think the working assumption should be that D. maculatus does not alter bone with the exception (as we outlined) when beetles and bones are in an enclosure that prevents beetle emigration.
Included in
Entomology Commons, Forensic Science and Technology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons
Comments
Open access
License: CC BY 4.0