Day 8: 23 June 2009

The carcasses have begun to deflate as maggots feed on various areas of the body. The pigs are looking greasy and leathery. Very few flies are present and the largest maggots have reached their postfeeding stage and are wandering off the carcass. Flies were collected with sweepnet if present. Beetles and maggots were collected from carcasses and pitfall traps.

Beetles

Collected at farm: Carrion beetles (Necrophila americana and Oiceoptoma novaboracense), rove beetles (Platydracus spp. and Creophilus maxillosus), the small dung beetle (Onthophagus spp.), clown beetles (Hister spp.), hide beetle (Trox unistriatus) and a ground beetle of the family Carabidae.

Collected at CSU: The hairy rove beetle Creophilus maxillosus, Hister beetles and a ground beetle of the family Carabidae.

Flies

Collected at farm: mostly Phormia regina and 1 Protophormia terraenovae.

Collected at CSU: Phormia regina and 1 Protophormia terraenovae.

Pig 4. Location: CSU. Blowfly activity and few maggot masses on carcass, but this carcass is not decomposing as quickly as the other pig at CSU and still remains mostly intact (Above). Blowflies are present on the abscess which is still swollen, but has opened and is full of maggots (Below).

Pig 5. Location: University Farm. Maggots have spread out over the carcass and are feeding in various areas (Above). A large maggot mass is present on the hind area of the pig (Below).

Submitted by Krystal Hans, MS student, Cleveland State University, 13 August 2009.