Day 11: 27 June 2009

The carcasses are in the post decay stage of decomposition, but are becoming more leathery on the surface. Maggot activity is still present underneath the pigs in the soft tissues that remain. Beetles have been collected from the carcasses as well as the pitfall traps.

Beetles

Collected at farm: Carrion beetles (Necrophila americana and Oiceoptoma rugulosum), rove beetles (Platydracus spp. and Creophilus maxillosus), the Red-legged ham beetle (Necrobia rufipes), clown beetles (Hister spp.), hide beetles (Trox unistriatus) and ground beetles of the family Carabidae.

Collected at CSU: The hairy rove beetle Creophilus maxillosus, hide beetles (Dermestes pulcher), a scarab beetle (Sercia sericea) and Hister beetles.

Flies

Collected at CSU: Phormia regina and Lucilia sericata, the sheep blow fly.

More puparia are present all around the carcasses and in the pitfall traps.

Pig 4. Location: CSU. Most of the tissue has been consumed, but there are still maggots underneath and wandering off the carcass (Above). The leg with the abscess is no longer recognizable as most of the tissue is gone (Below).

Pig 6. Location: University Farm. The surface of the pig is very leathery and dry, but maggots of various sizes are present on and under the carcass.

Submitted by Krystal Hans, MS student, Cleveland State University, 14 August 2009.