Guidelines for laboratory rearing of insect evidence: the importance of air humidity for breeding of Necrodes littoralis (L.) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae).

ABSTRACT: In forensic entomology, effective rearing of insect evidence is crucial as it increases the accuracy of post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation and facilitates species identifications of some evidence. However, virtually no single species has a forensically useful rearing protocol. This study investigates the importance of relative humidity on larval development and fitness of Necrodes littoralis (L.) (Staphylinidae), and proposes an all-inclusive rearing protocol for this forensically important beetle species. We hypothesized that high relative humidity enhances growth, shortens development and promotes thermogenesis. By manipulating relative humidity (50%, 70%, 90%) and the presence of adult beetles during the prelarval phase, we demonstrated that high relative humidity level significantly

SUBMITTER: Madra-Bielewicz A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11903684 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature