Ecological aspects of unusual findings of animals nesting inside a mummified human corpse in natural conditions

Łukasz Szleszkowski; Marcin Kadej; Agata Thannhäuser; Dariusz Tarnawski; Tomasz Jurek

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.06.002

Ecological aspects of unusual findings of animals nesting inside a mummified human corpse in natural conditions

Forensic Sci Int. 2018 Aug:289:390-396. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.06.002. Epub 2018 Jun 8.

Authors

Łukasz Szleszkowski¹, Marcin Kadej², Agata Thannhäuser¹, Dariusz Tarnawski³, Tomasz Jurek¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forensic Medicine, Wrocław Medical University, Mikulicza-Radeckiego 4, PL-50-345 Wrocław, Poland.
² Department of Invertebrate Biology, Evolution and Conservation, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 65, PL-51-148 Wrocław, Poland. Electronic address: marcin.kadej@uwr.edu.pl.
³ Department of Invertebrate Biology, Evolution and Conservation, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 65, PL-51-148 Wrocław, Poland.

PMID: 29960258
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.06.002

Abstract

We report, for the first time, a case of nesting by Apis mellifera mellifera (L., 1758) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae), Vespula vulgaris (L., 1758) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae), and Sciurus vulgaris L., 1758 (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) inside a mummified human corpse in natural conditions (Lower Silesia province, south-western Poland). A case history, autopsy findings, and biological observations are provided. A list of the insect species found in the corpse is provided and compared with available data. Other zoological findings are mentioned and briefly discussed.

Keywords: Honeybee combs; Human corpse; Microhabitats; Mummification; Sciurus vulgaris; Vespidae nests.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Animals
Bees*
Cadaver
Forests
Humans
Male
Mummies*
Nesting Behavior*
Sciuridae*
Wasps*