Diversity and Succession of Forensically Important Beetles from Himachal Pradesh

The primary objective of this study was to elucidate the diversity, distribution, and abundance of forensically pertinent Coleopteran fauna, as well as to examine their succession patterns across various localities in Himachal Pradesh. The results revealed that the most prevalent species belonged to the family Histeridae, followed by Scarabaeidae, Silphidae, Staphylinidae, Dermestidae, and Cleridae. A total of 295 specimens representing eight families and 35 species were documented. These findings will significantly contribute to the compilation of a checklist of forensically significant beetles and facilitate the calculation of PMImin, in addition to providing insights into their potential roles in criminal investigations. Notably, the fringed ladder beetle, Dermestes frischii Kugelann, and the dung beetle, Sisyphus longipes (Olivier), from the families Dermestidae and Scarabaeidae, were identified for the first time in Himachal Pradesh, India.