Molecular phylogeny of Chondrocyclus (Gastropoda: Cyclophoridae), a widespread genus of sedentary, restricted-range snails:
- Cole, Mary L, Raheem, Dinarzarde C, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Cole, Mary L , Raheem, Dinarzarde C , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140761 , vital:37916 , DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.09.018
- Description: The genus Chondrocyclus Ancey, 1898 contains the majority of southern African members of the Cyclophoridae, a large family of operculate land snails. We present the first molecular phylogeny of the genus based on two mitochondrial genes (16S and CO1) and complement this with an appraisal of morphological characters relating to the shell and soft parts. Worn shells on which some descriptions and records of different species were based appear to be indistinguishable morphologically, creating taxonomic confusion. We show that Chondrocyclus s.l. underwent two major radiations, one Afromontane and the other largely coastal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Cole, Mary L , Raheem, Dinarzarde C , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140761 , vital:37916 , DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.09.018
- Description: The genus Chondrocyclus Ancey, 1898 contains the majority of southern African members of the Cyclophoridae, a large family of operculate land snails. We present the first molecular phylogeny of the genus based on two mitochondrial genes (16S and CO1) and complement this with an appraisal of morphological characters relating to the shell and soft parts. Worn shells on which some descriptions and records of different species were based appear to be indistinguishable morphologically, creating taxonomic confusion. We show that Chondrocyclus s.l. underwent two major radiations, one Afromontane and the other largely coastal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The uses of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794)(Diptera: Calliphoridae) in forensic entomology:
- Badenhorst, Rozane, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Badenhorst, Rozane , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140631 , vital:37905 , DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2018.1426136
- Description: Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) occurs on every continent and is closely associated with carrion and decaying material in human environments. Its abilities to find dead bodies and carry pathogens give it a prominence in human affairs that may involve prosecution or litigation, and therefore forensic entomologists. The identification, geographical distribution and biology of the species are reviewed to provide a background for approaches that four branches of forensic entomology (urban, stored-product, medico-criminal and environmental) might take to investigations involving this fly.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Badenhorst, Rozane , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140631 , vital:37905 , DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2018.1426136
- Description: Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) occurs on every continent and is closely associated with carrion and decaying material in human environments. Its abilities to find dead bodies and carry pathogens give it a prominence in human affairs that may involve prosecution or litigation, and therefore forensic entomologists. The identification, geographical distribution and biology of the species are reviewed to provide a background for approaches that four branches of forensic entomology (urban, stored-product, medico-criminal and environmental) might take to investigations involving this fly.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Decoupled reciprocal subsidies of biomass and fatty acids in fluxes of invertebrates between a temperate river and the adjacent land:
- Moyo, Sydney, Chari, Lenin D, Villet, Martin H, Richoux, Nicole B
- Authors: Moyo, Sydney , Chari, Lenin D , Villet, Martin H , Richoux, Nicole B
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140843 , vital:37923 , DOI: 10.1007/s00027-017-0529-0
- Description: Streams and riparian areas are tightly coupled through reciprocal trophic subsidies, and there is evidence that these subsidies affect consumers in connected ecosystems. Most studies of subsidies consider only their quantity and not their quality. We determined the bidirectional exchange of organisms between the Kowie River and its riparian zone in South Africa using floating pyramidal traps (to measure insect emergence) and pan traps (to capture infalling invertebrates).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Moyo, Sydney , Chari, Lenin D , Villet, Martin H , Richoux, Nicole B
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140843 , vital:37923 , DOI: 10.1007/s00027-017-0529-0
- Description: Streams and riparian areas are tightly coupled through reciprocal trophic subsidies, and there is evidence that these subsidies affect consumers in connected ecosystems. Most studies of subsidies consider only their quantity and not their quality. We determined the bidirectional exchange of organisms between the Kowie River and its riparian zone in South Africa using floating pyramidal traps (to measure insect emergence) and pan traps (to capture infalling invertebrates).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Determination of species and instars of the larvae of the Afrotropical species of Thanatophilus Leach, 1817 (Coleoptera, Silphidae)
- Daniel, Claire A, Midgley, John M, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Daniel, Claire A , Midgley, John M , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59682 , vital:27638 , doi: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.58.12966
- Description: Thanatophilus micans and T. mutilatus have significance for forensic entomology. Their larvae are therefore described and a key is provided for identifying the larvae of Afrotropical Silphidae based on morphological characters. It is shown that seven common species of Thanatophilus can be distinguished by a 360 bp mtDNA sequence from the cytochrome oxidase I gene.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Daniel, Claire A , Midgley, John M , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59682 , vital:27638 , doi: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.58.12966
- Description: Thanatophilus micans and T. mutilatus have significance for forensic entomology. Their larvae are therefore described and a key is provided for identifying the larvae of Afrotropical Silphidae based on morphological characters. It is shown that seven common species of Thanatophilus can be distinguished by a 360 bp mtDNA sequence from the cytochrome oxidase I gene.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Determination of species and instars of the larvae of the Afrotropical species of Thanatophilus Leach, 1817 (Coleoptera, Silphidae)
- Daniel, Claire A, Midgley, John M, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Daniel, Claire A , Midgley, John M , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440652 , vital:73800 , https://doi.org/10.3897/ AfrInvertebr.58.12966
- Description: Thanatophilus micans and T. mutilatus have significance for forensic entomology. Their larvae are therefore described and a key is provided for identifying the larvae of Afrotropical Silphidae based on morphological characters. It is shown that seven common species of Thanatophilus can be distinguished by a 360 bp mtDNA sequence from the cytochrome oxidase I gene.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Daniel, Claire A , Midgley, John M , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440652 , vital:73800 , https://doi.org/10.3897/ AfrInvertebr.58.12966
- Description: Thanatophilus micans and T. mutilatus have significance for forensic entomology. Their larvae are therefore described and a key is provided for identifying the larvae of Afrotropical Silphidae based on morphological characters. It is shown that seven common species of Thanatophilus can be distinguished by a 360 bp mtDNA sequence from the cytochrome oxidase I gene.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Forensic entomotoxicology revisited: towards professional standardisation of study designs
- da Silva, Erica I T, Wilhelmi, Brendan S, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: da Silva, Erica I T , Wilhelmi, Brendan S , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140819 , vital:37921 , DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1603-9
- Description: Forensic entomotoxicology is the use of insects as evidence of whether a toxicant is present in an environment such as a corpse, river or landscape. The earliest overtly forensic study was published in 1977, and since then, at least 63 papers have been published, most of them focused on the detection of toxicants in insects or on effects of toxicants on diverse insect indicator taxa. A comprehensive review of the published literature revealed various inconsistencies between studies that could be addressed by introducing standard protocols for such studies. These protocols could include selecting widespread and common model organisms (such as Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya megacephala and Dermestes maculatus) and model toxicants (e.g. morphine and amitriptyline) to build up comparative databases; developing a standard matrix for use as a feeding substrate; setting guidelines for statistically adequate sample sizes; and deploying more sophisticated analytical methods from the general field of toxicology.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: da Silva, Erica I T , Wilhelmi, Brendan S , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140819 , vital:37921 , DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1603-9
- Description: Forensic entomotoxicology is the use of insects as evidence of whether a toxicant is present in an environment such as a corpse, river or landscape. The earliest overtly forensic study was published in 1977, and since then, at least 63 papers have been published, most of them focused on the detection of toxicants in insects or on effects of toxicants on diverse insect indicator taxa. A comprehensive review of the published literature revealed various inconsistencies between studies that could be addressed by introducing standard protocols for such studies. These protocols could include selecting widespread and common model organisms (such as Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya megacephala and Dermestes maculatus) and model toxicants (e.g. morphine and amitriptyline) to build up comparative databases; developing a standard matrix for use as a feeding substrate; setting guidelines for statistically adequate sample sizes; and deploying more sophisticated analytical methods from the general field of toxicology.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Nocturnal oviposition behavior of blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in the southern hemisphere (South Africa and Australia) and its forensic implications:
- Williams, Kirstin A, Wallman, James F, Lessard, Bryan D, Kavazos, Christopher R J, Mazungula, D Nkosinathi, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Wallman, James F , Lessard, Bryan D , Kavazos, Christopher R J , Mazungula, D Nkosinathi , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140832 , vital:37922 , DOI: 10.1007/s12024-017-9861-x
- Description: Published research has offered contradictory evidence of the occurrence of nocturnal oviposition by carrion-breeding blowflies, a behavior that can affect the interpretation of forensic estimates of a minimum post mortem interval (minPMI) by up to 12 hours, depending on latitude and season. The majority of published studies are from the northern hemisphere. Field experiments were conducted in South Africa and Australia that extend observations to species of the southern hemisphere. Various vertebrate carrion was exposed at night in summer under different lunar phases and/or artificial lighting, and in woodland and pasture areas. Three laboratory experiments were also conducted. No nocturnal oviposition occurred outdoors in Berry, Australia, but Lucilia cuprina, Lucilia sericata and Chrysomya megacephala laid eggs outdoors at night in Grahamstown and Durban, South Africa. In laboratory experiments L. sericata, L. cuprina, Chrysomya chloropyga and Chrysomya putoria laid eggs and Calliphora augur deposited larvae under nocturnal conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Wallman, James F , Lessard, Bryan D , Kavazos, Christopher R J , Mazungula, D Nkosinathi , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140832 , vital:37922 , DOI: 10.1007/s12024-017-9861-x
- Description: Published research has offered contradictory evidence of the occurrence of nocturnal oviposition by carrion-breeding blowflies, a behavior that can affect the interpretation of forensic estimates of a minimum post mortem interval (minPMI) by up to 12 hours, depending on latitude and season. The majority of published studies are from the northern hemisphere. Field experiments were conducted in South Africa and Australia that extend observations to species of the southern hemisphere. Various vertebrate carrion was exposed at night in summer under different lunar phases and/or artificial lighting, and in woodland and pasture areas. Three laboratory experiments were also conducted. No nocturnal oviposition occurred outdoors in Berry, Australia, but Lucilia cuprina, Lucilia sericata and Chrysomya megacephala laid eggs outdoors at night in Grahamstown and Durban, South Africa. In laboratory experiments L. sericata, L. cuprina, Chrysomya chloropyga and Chrysomya putoria laid eggs and Calliphora augur deposited larvae under nocturnal conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Species identification of adult African blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic importance:
- Lutz, Lena, Williams, Kristin A, Villet, Martin H, Ekanem, Mfon
- Authors: Lutz, Lena , Williams, Kristin A , Villet, Martin H , Ekanem, Mfon
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140620 , vital:37904 , DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1654-y
- Description: Necrophagous blowflies can provide an excellent source of evidence for forensic entomologists and are also relevant to problems in public health, medicine, and animal health. However, access to useful information about these blowflies is constrained by the need to correctly identify the flies, and the poor availability of reliable, accessible identification tools is a serious obstacle to the development of forensic entomology in the majority of African countries. In response to this need, a high-quality key to the adults of all species of forensically relevant blowflies of Africa has been prepared, drawing on high-quality entomological materials and modern focus-stacking photomicroscopy. This new key can be easily applied by investigators inexperienced in the taxonomy of blowflies and is made available through a highly accessible online platform. Problematic diagnostic characters used in previous keys are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Lutz, Lena , Williams, Kristin A , Villet, Martin H , Ekanem, Mfon
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140620 , vital:37904 , DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1654-y
- Description: Necrophagous blowflies can provide an excellent source of evidence for forensic entomologists and are also relevant to problems in public health, medicine, and animal health. However, access to useful information about these blowflies is constrained by the need to correctly identify the flies, and the poor availability of reliable, accessible identification tools is a serious obstacle to the development of forensic entomology in the majority of African countries. In response to this need, a high-quality key to the adults of all species of forensically relevant blowflies of Africa has been prepared, drawing on high-quality entomological materials and modern focus-stacking photomicroscopy. This new key can be easily applied by investigators inexperienced in the taxonomy of blowflies and is made available through a highly accessible online platform. Problematic diagnostic characters used in previous keys are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The temporal occurrence of flesh flies (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) at carrion-baited traps in Grahamstown, South Africa
- Villet, Martin H, Clitheroe, Crystal-Leigh, Williams, Kirstin A
- Authors: Villet, Martin H , Clitheroe, Crystal-Leigh , Williams, Kirstin A
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59692 , vital:27639 , https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.58.9537
- Description: Eleven species of flesh fly were identified in a sample of 737 specimens captured during fortnightly trapping at three sites in Grahamstown, South Africa, over a year. Sarcophaga africa Wiedemann, 1824, S. inaequalis Austen, 1909, S. exuberans Pandelle, 1896 and S. tibialis Macquart, 1851 showed well-defined peaks between early October 2001 and late April 2002, and only S. africa was trapped at other times of year. These peaks occurred when average minimum and maximum ambient air temperatures were above 12°C and 22°C, respectively, and showed no obvious relationship to rainfall. There were indications of population cycles in all of these species. Sarcophaga hera Zumpt, 1972, S. arno Curran, 1934, S. inzi Curran, 1934, S. langi Curran, 1934, S. freyi Zumpt, 1953, S. nodosa Engel, 1925 and S. samia Curran, 1934 were too scarce to assess their patterns of occurrence rigorously. Insects attending a corpse are reputed to assist forensic entomologists in estimating the time of year when the body died. Some flesh flies provide more precise estimates than others, so several species should be used for cross-validation. Insect activity at a corpse depends on the weather, so that presence of a species indicates particular environmental conditions and not simply calendar dates (particularly if climate changes). Absence of a species is not necessarily evidence of specific conditions because species may not be present at all sites simultaneously, populations cycle even when their members are active, and low population densities may hamper detection of a species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Villet, Martin H , Clitheroe, Crystal-Leigh , Williams, Kirstin A
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59692 , vital:27639 , https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.58.9537
- Description: Eleven species of flesh fly were identified in a sample of 737 specimens captured during fortnightly trapping at three sites in Grahamstown, South Africa, over a year. Sarcophaga africa Wiedemann, 1824, S. inaequalis Austen, 1909, S. exuberans Pandelle, 1896 and S. tibialis Macquart, 1851 showed well-defined peaks between early October 2001 and late April 2002, and only S. africa was trapped at other times of year. These peaks occurred when average minimum and maximum ambient air temperatures were above 12°C and 22°C, respectively, and showed no obvious relationship to rainfall. There were indications of population cycles in all of these species. Sarcophaga hera Zumpt, 1972, S. arno Curran, 1934, S. inzi Curran, 1934, S. langi Curran, 1934, S. freyi Zumpt, 1953, S. nodosa Engel, 1925 and S. samia Curran, 1934 were too scarce to assess their patterns of occurrence rigorously. Insects attending a corpse are reputed to assist forensic entomologists in estimating the time of year when the body died. Some flesh flies provide more precise estimates than others, so several species should be used for cross-validation. Insect activity at a corpse depends on the weather, so that presence of a species indicates particular environmental conditions and not simply calendar dates (particularly if climate changes). Absence of a species is not necessarily evidence of specific conditions because species may not be present at all sites simultaneously, populations cycle even when their members are active, and low population densities may hamper detection of a species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
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