Preliminary Data on Life Cycle of Creophilus maxillosus Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and New Report of this Species on a Human Corpse, South of Iran

Beetles (Coleoptera) have been recognized as significant entomological evidence in the forensic entomology field in estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). We report on the colonization of an adult human corpse by three beetle species in Sadra district, Fars province, south of Iran. The adults of Creophilus maxillosus, Dermestes frischii and Hister sp were all collected from the victim’s body which had been wrapped in a sack. For the life cycle study, Creophilus maxillosus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) adult beetles were allowed to feed, mate and oviposit in rearing chamber (11 × 9 cm) at 23 ± 1°C. Development rates from the instance mates placed together to the emergence of adults was 41 days. Information from this study can be helpful in forensic entomology study.