Forensic entomology applied to a mummified corpse.

The recovery of natural mummies is always a rare event in forensic practice because it is highly dependant on climatic conditions and necrophagous ins ects activity. The entomofauna associated with natural mummies is very spec ific and is composed of household pests of animal products. We present the case of a mummified human corpse, discovered one year and two months after death. The corpse was discovered in a closed flat and was consequently prot ected against the activity of the most active necrophagous insects (Calliph oridae. Muscidae, Sarcophagidae). Numerous individuals of three species of forensic interest insects at various stages of development were sampled on the cadaver. Two of them were household insects : Tineola bisselliella Humm el (Lepidoptera, Tineidae), and Anthrenocerus australis Hope (Coleoptera, D ermestidae), which were naturally present in the flat and colonized the cor pse when it reached the suitable stage of dessication. It is the first time that A. australis was observed and sampled on an human cadaver. The third species was a Phoridae (Diptera) : Megaselia sp., a small fly having succee ded to penetrate into the flat from outdoors.