Our new article is out! This time we have returned to the topic of larval morphology with redescription of red-breasted carrion beetle (Oiceoptoma thoracicum).
Our team just published a new study that will push our beloved forensic entomology a bit further. We took a closer look at Oiceoptoma thoracicum—a beetle that's super common across Europe and Asia and often shows up on dead animals, including humans. While the adults are easy to recognize, the larvae have been a bit of a mistery—until now.
We’ve described the beetle’s larvae in detail for the first time and figured out how to tell the different developmental stages (instars) apart. This is a big deal because these little guys can help estimate how long a body has been decomposing—an important clue in criminal investigations. Until now, people had to rely on expensive molecular tools to ID them, but our study gives a practical, hands-on alternative.
We also included a handy list of all known larval stages in the Oiceoptoma genus to help other researchers and forensic teams. You can find the article here, or let us know via email or Researchgate and we will send you the full text.