COMPARATIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE ARTHROPOD SUCCESSIONS ON DICHLORVOS-TREATED AND CONTROL CARRIONS IN UBURU, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the decomposition pattern and arthropod successions on dichlorvos-treated and control carrions for use in post-mortem investigations. Decomposition rate was notably faster in the dichlorvos-treated carrions. The abundance of arthropod species on dichlorvos-treated carrions 1444 (t = 6.276; p < 0.05) was less than that of the control carrions 1,928 (t = 6.637; p < 0.05). The arthropods of the dichlorvos-treated carrions comprised eight orders; the Diptera, 1187(82.18%), Coleoptera, 214(14.81%), Hymenoptera, 21(1.45%), Isoptera, 6(0.42%); Orthoptera, 5(0.35%), Araneae, 6(0.42%) and Polydesmida, 3(0.21%), Decapoda 2(0.14%) while the control carrions comprised eight orders; the Diptera, 1549(80.34%), Coleoptera, 309(16.03%), Hymenoptera, 28(1.45%), Isoptera, 10(0.52%); Orthoptera, 10(0.52%), Araneae, 9(0.36%) and Polydesmida, 6(0.31%). Both carrion groups showed Chrysomya albiceps (Calliphoridae) and Necrobia rufipes (Cleridae) as the most abundant dipteran and coleopteran species respectively. Additionally, 11 arthropod species were unique to the control carrions while 8 species were exclusive to the dichlorvos-treated carrions. The study documented over 20 forensically uncommon arthropod species from both carrion groups. It was revealed that dichlorvos exposure disrupts the natural decomposition process and significantly alters arthropod successions on carrion. This has important forensic implications, as it can impact the ability to accurately estimate the post-mortem interval.