New decomposition stages to describe scenarios involving the partial and complete exclusion of insects

Few studies have intentionally examined the decomposition process when insects are excluded and only one known study has been published that has characterized decomposition occurring under this condition. This study proposes new stages of decomposition to describe scenarios involving the partial and complete exclusion of insects. Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) carcasses were used to model the human decomposition process during the summer months of three consecutive years in Southern Ontario, Canada. The carcasses that were colonized by insects passed through the stages initially proposed by Payne (1965). Carcasses excluded from insects differed from these stages and warranted new stages to describe the processes. Partially excluded carcasses were characterized by: fresh, bloat, localized tissue removal, dry decomposition, and desiccation stages. The completely excluded carcasses were characterized by: fresh, bloat, deflation, and dry decomposition stages. Additional studies should be conducted in different environments to compare these observational stages.