Puparia Cleaning Techniques for Forensic and Archaeo-Funerary Studies

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In forensic entomology, the correct identification of the species colonizing a body is fundamental. In old cases, puparia of Diptera represent the only entomological evidence available. Their identification is made particularly difficult not only because the lack of identification keys, but also because the presence on their surface of elements (dust, soil, dry decomposition fluids, bacteria, etc.) that can cover the diagnostic characters. Because of their fragility and the low amount of DNA, six cleaning techniques based on chemical and physical treatments have been tested. The results of this study indicate that cleaning via warm water/soap, the sonication and treatment with a sodium hydroxide solution are the best methods to achieve a good quality of the samples. ABSTRACT: Diptera puparia may represent both in forensic and archaeo-funerary contexts the majority of the entomological evidence useful to reconstruct the peri and post-mortem events. Puparia identification is quite difficult due to the lack of identification keys and descriptions. In addition, external substances accumulated during the puparia permanence in the environment make the visualization of the few diagnostic characters difficult, resulting in a wrong identification. Six different techniques based on physical and chemical treatments have been tested for the removal of external substances from puparia to make identification at species level feasible. Furthermore, the effects of these methods on successful molecular analyses have also been tested as molecular identification is becoming an important tool to complement morphological identifications. The results of this study indicate that cleaning via warm water/soap, the sonication and treatment with a sodium hydroxide solution are the best methods to achieve a good quality of the samples.