Mercedes Martinez – Forensic Entomology – “They Went Buck Wild” – Deer 82/37 Returns!

7/4/19 – Before I even walked into the kitchen this morning, I was out by the site collecting data on Squirrel’s A and B. Surprisingly, there were no bugs in sight – not even on B. I was confused, but maybe B had gotten too cold during the night, which would deter insects from laying eggs and eating him.

Who knew corpse-eaters had standards?

While a little disappointed, that soon disappeared when Cristina called the house when I got back. We were going to go back to Deer 82/37 to collect more beetles and grubs, as these were the insects that appear later into decomposition, due to their stronger jaws being able to tear through the hardened flesh and muscle. I made sure to put the tea tree oil under my nose this time.

After only a day and a half more, this is all that’s left of Deer 82/37. May he rest in pieces.

Cristina and I managed to collect two new beetles and, by using a shovel to dig where the rest of 82/37 had been, a few more grubs and even a few fly pupae

this is a fly pupae, the stage before adulthood. The newly caught grubs and pupae will be put into a separate container, as they were collected later down the decomposition process. 

Just as the beetles that were first collected, the new beetles will be frozen, the only difference being that the new beetles will be frozen in the freezer at the house I’m staying in (Sorry Val and Chloe!)

After the separation and containment of my new roommates, I checked on my unlucky neighbors, the Squirrels. While B only had two flies on his face and a bloodied eye, A is already in bloat, the second stage of the decomposition process. Not only had he grown quite big, his tongue had also swollen up and, along with blood and other fluid, bubbled out of his mouth

Due to the cells in the body not functioning anymore, the enzymes leak and dissolve tissue. The bacteria that had once helped in the breaking down of food now eats through the stomach and any surrounding organs. All the gas that is accumulated through all of this destruction cannot escape because of its normal passage ways (the rectum and esophagus) being closed, causing the body to balloon in size. And, yes, if you’re wondering, it smells. Awful. Not as bad as putrefaction liquid, but still bad.  All of this commotion attracts flies, which cannot reach A due to the bug cage.

B’s friend

B’s new body modification

On the last observation of the day, B’s ants from the day before were back, this time making a visible wound near his mouth. 4 flies surrounded his cage, as well as a small black beetle.

And that was that.

Have a happy 4th of July!

P.S.

While fireworks are not allowed on the ranch (for obvious reasons), I can still enjoy an explosion of color 🙂