Effects of temperature on the development of the Neotropical carrion beetle Oxelytrum discicolle (Brullé, 1840) (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

Abstract

Due to its necrophagy, the Neotropical beetle Oxelytrum discicolle (Brullé, 1840) is found in association with human corpses. Its biology can provide important information to determine the postmortem interval (PMI). We studied the life cycle of O. discicolle in the laboratory under three constant temperatures (15, 20 and 28ºC) and under natural conditions (mean T = 18.5ºC) in a cloud forest in Altos de Pipe (10º20´N, 66º55´W) Miranda state, Venezuela. The total time required to complete development from egg to adult emergence shortened as temperatures increased, ranging from 40.00 ± 2.73 days at 15ºC to 20.33 ± 0.89 days at 28ºC. Developmental time in natural conditions was not significantly different from that obtained at 20ºC. This information would be useful to forensic entomology applied to criminal investigations in Venezuela and the Neotropical region.