Abstract

The first investigation of arthropods associated with carrion in Cameroon was carried out within the campus of the University of Yaounde I (Cameroon) from 17^thJanuary, to 3^rd April, 2006. Carcasses of rats (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769 var WISTAR)were exposed for colonization by the local fauna of arthropods. The visiting and colonizing arthropods were collected daily during the study periods. 1980 arthropods of forensic importance belonging to 4 classes, 16 orders, 39 families and 3 subfamilies were identified. Among the insects assessed were Coleoptera: Cleridae, Curculionidae, Dermestidae, Histeridae, Mordellidae, Ptiliidae, Scarabaeidae, Silphidae, Staphylinidae (subfamily Tachyporinae), Trogidae; Dermaptera; Diptera: Anthomyiidae,  Calliphoridae, Cecidomyiidae, Culicidae, Drosophilidae, Ephydridae, Fanniidae, Heleomyzidae, Lauxaniidae, Muscidae (subfamily Phaoniinae), Phoridae, Piophilidae, Sarcophagidae, Sciaridae, Sepsidae and Sphaeroceridae; Hemiptera: Aphididae, Anthocoridae, Cicadidae; Hymenoptera: Formicidae (subfamilies Myrmicinae (genera Pheidole,Tetramorium and Monomorium), Formicinae (Paratrechina longicornis and Oecophylla longinoda) and Dolichoderinae), Braconidae, Proctotrupidae, Scelionidae, Chalcididae; Lepidoptera: Tineidae; Psocoptera; and Thysanura. Other arthropods such as Arachneida and Myriapoda (Chilopoda and Diplopoda) were also collected. This study illustrates the diversity of the cadaver fauna in Cameroon and provides an approximation of the succession pattern of arthropods associated with carrion through a field experiment (77days).

Key words: Cadaver fauna, arthropods, chronological succession, Rattus norvegicus, Calliphoridae.