الخلاصة

Forensic entomology is the application and study of insect biology to medico-legal matters. This study was conducted to gather database information about forensically important insects and their succession on decomposing exposed rabbit carcasses at rural area of An-Najaf province-Iraq during two seasons spring and summer of year 2014. Ten species from 7 families under 3 orders were successfully identified during the study period, these orders were Diptera,Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. The most important families of Diptera to breed on carcass were Calliphoridae such as Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia sericata, and Sarcophagidae such as Sarcophaga africa. Dermestidae was most important families of Coleoptera such as Dermestes maculatus .All of these species can used as forensic indicators to estimate the PMI. The majority of the collected species were abundant during Spring than Summer. The most important species with respect to abundance and frequency were C.vicina, Chrysomya albiceps and Sarcophaga africa. Four stages of decomposition were observed (fresh, bloated, decay and dry stage). The duration of it varies with temperature and relative humidity of each season. The total period of decomposition of carcasses was 21 days in Spring, while reached 12 days in Summer. There was interaction between decomposition stages of carcasses and colonization by insects species arriving to the carcass. The succession patterns of insect on exposed carcasses occurred in a predictable sequence that varied across seasons. Carcasses placed in spring attracted a more diverse assemblage of insects than Summer-placed carcass. Members of CalliphoridaeCalliphora vicina were the first dipterans colonizers and breed on a carcass in Spring, While the Chrysomya albiceps was the first colonizer during Summer. The second wave of insects were members of Coleoptera:Dermestes maculatus. Adults of Cataglyphis sp. continued in appeared during two seasons from the advanced stage to the end of later stages..