Formicidae Faunal Succession on Buried Rabbit Carcass: Implications for Forensic Entomology

Background: Buried carrion can help in forensic investigation cases in determining the post-burial-interval (PBI), movement of the body or hiding of the crime. The current study aims to determine the succession of ant species on rabbit carcass buried in an outdoor habitat of the King Saud University, Western Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In the present study, twelve rabbits were buried at 20 cm and twelve at 40 cm in two different periods. After 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 days, one cadaver from each depth was unearthed. Results: We have found 8 species of Formicidae, 4 types at a depth of 20 cm and two types only at a depth of 40 cm in the first period, while two types were found at a depth of 20 cm and one type only at 40 cm in the second period of the experiment. In the first period of the experiment, Cataglyphis holgerseni (Formicinae) and Cardiocondyla sp. (Myrmicinae) were the most prevalent species at depths of 20 cm and 40 cm, respectively; however, in the exposed carcasses, Messor ebeninus (Myrmicinae) predominated in both study periods. While no specie dominated the buried bodies in the second phase, as the numbers were very few in the second period on buried carcasses. In this study, many Formicidae species that correlate to different stages of corpse decomposition that were previously unknown from buried bodies in Saudi Arabia were recorded. Therefore, it is important and may have consequences in medicolegal issues.