Morphoecological groups of criminalistic importance of the family Histeridae (Coleoptera: Polyphaga) in Cuba
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Published
Jan 24, 2026
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Abstract
The species of the Histeridae family are forensic importance. due to their utility in estimating the Postmortem Interval (PMI). Their morphological and ecological adaptations are related to their presence in decomposing carcasses. While countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru have established comprehensive lists of Histeridae species relevant to forensic investigations, no such compilation has yet been made for Cuba. The objective of this research was to classify the hister beetles from Cuba according to their forensic significance, based on their morphoecological characteristics. Samplings ware performed using fall traps with decomposing organic matter, in the bark of rotten trees, and carcasses of pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus), cows (Bos taurus), horses (Equus caballus), and humans (Homo sapiens). Also, Hister beetles from Cuban entomological collections were examined. A total of 50 Histeridae species were recorded from the Cuban archipelago, of which 12 are endemic and 41.1% have forensic significance. Three large morphoecological groups were identified: dendrophiles, geophiles, and microhistyrids. Species of forensic interest were reported only in the group of geophiles, in the subgroup of saprophiles. The results obtained constitute the first referent for a country in Central America and the Caribbean.
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Hydrophiloidea, postmortem, taxonomy, ecology, Greater Antilles
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Aballay, F. H., Arriagada, G., Flores, G. E., & Centeno, N. D. (2013). An illustrated key to and diagnoses of the species of Histeridae (Coleoptera) associated with decaying carcasses in Argentina. ZooKeys, 261, 61–84. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.261.4226
Aballay, F. H., Murúa, A. F., Acosta, J. C., & Centeno, N. D. (2012). Succession of carrion fauna in the arid region of San Juan province, Argentina: Its forensic relevance. Neotropical Entomology, 41, 27–31.
Arriagada, G., Jofré, F. N., & Aballay, F. H. (2019). Nueva especie de Euspilotus Lewis de Argentina (Coleoptera: Histeridae). Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, 21(1), 7–15.
Bala, M., & Kaur, P. (2014). Insect faunal succession on buried piece of pork in the state of Punjab (India): A preliminary study. Journal of Forensic Research, 5, 252. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7145.1000252
Battán-Horenstein, M., Rosso, B., & García, M. D. (2012). Seasonal structure and dynamics of sarcosaprophagous fauna on pig carrion in a rural area of Cordoba (Argentina): Their importance in forensic science. Forensic Science International, 217(1–3), 146–156.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.10.043
Calzolari, M., Defilippo, F., Zani, G., Colombo, M., & Dottori, M. (2014). Characterization of necrophagus entomofauna in a typical agricultural area in Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy). Entomology, 2, 73–78.
Castillo-Miralbés, M. (2002). Estudio de la entomofauna asociada en el Alto Aragón (España). Monografías Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, 6, 1–94.
Caterino, M. S., & Tischechkin, A. K. (2015). Phylogeny and generic limits in New World Exosternini (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Histerinae). Systematic Entomology, 40, 109–110. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12095
Cobo, A., & Lancis, S. (1981). La putrefacción cadavérica al aire libre. Estudio médico-legal en las provincias de Santiago de Cuba, Granma y Guantánamo. Revista Actualidad de Medicina Legal, 1, 4–66.
Genaro, J. A., & Tejuca, A. E. (2001). Patterns of endemism and biogeography of Cuban insects. In: Woods, C. A. & Sergile, F. E. (eds.). Biogeography of the West Indies: Patterns and perspectives, 15–33. 2nd ed. CRC Press, 582 pp.
Gundlach, J. C. (1891). Contribución a la entomología cubana. Parte quinta: Coleópteros. Imp. de A. Alvarez y Comp, Riela núm. 40. La Habana, 71 pp.
Kovarik, P. W., & Caterino, M. S. (2000). Histeridae: 212–227. En Arnett, R. H., & Thomas, M.C. (Eds.). (2000). American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482274325
Lackner, T., Miles, Y. Z., Kindler, C., Motyka, M., & Balke, M. (2024). Saprininae: Phylogeny, biogeography and a new classification of the subfamily (Coleoptera: Histeridae). Systematic Entomology, 49(1), 48–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12606
Lamoth-Mayet, Y., & Posada, J. A. (2024). La Entomología Criminalística en Cuba: Proyecciones para su desarrollo. Revista Científica Multidisciplinar FARMHOUSE Ciencia & Tecnologia, 3(5), 10–13.
LeConte, J. E. (1860). Description of new species of the coleopterous family Histeridae. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 11(1859), 310–317.
Lundyshev, D. S. (2017). New records of Atholus beetle species (Coleoptera, Histeridae) from Tanzania. Euroasian Entomological Journal, 16(1), 73–74.
Mariani, R., Mancuso, R. G., Varela, G. L., & Inda, A. M. (2014). Entomofauna of a buried body: Study of the exhumation of a human cadaver in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Forensic Science International, 237, 19–26.
Marseul, S. A. (1854). Essai monographique sur la famille des histérides (Suite). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, (3) 1, 447–553.
Mazur, S. W. (1972). The Scientific Results of the Hungarian Soil Zoological Expeditions to South America, 22. The species of the family Histeridae (Coleoptera). Annales Histürico-Naturales Müsei Nation Alis Hungarici, 64, 184.
Megna, Y. S., Lamoth-Mayet, Y., Caterino, M. S., & Lackner, T. (2021). Phelister Marseul, 1854 in Cuba: first West Indies records of Phelister completus Schmidt, 1893, and notes on other Cuban species (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Histerinae). Check List, 17(1), 39–44.
https://doi.org/10.15560/17.1.39
Mise, K. M., Correa, R. C., & Almeida, L. M. (2013). Coleoptera fauna found on fresh and frozen rabbit carcasses in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 73(3), 543–48. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-69842013000300012
Naranjo, C., Cruz, Y., & Mayea, Y. (2009). Artrópodos presentes en la putrefacción de cadáveres de cerdos (Sus scrofa) en Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, 44, 441–447.
Paykull, G. (1811). Monographia Histeroidum. Upsaliae: Stenhammar & Pamblad, 114 pp.
Peck, S. B. (2005). A checklist of the beetles of Cuba with data on distribution and bionomics (Insecta: Coleoptera). Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, 18, 123–125.
Peck, S. B., Ruiz-Baliú, A. E., & Garcés, G. G. (1998). The cave-inhabiting beetles of Cuba (Insecta: Coleoptera): diversity, distribution and ecology. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, 60(3), 156–166.
Perez-Gelabert, D. E. (2020). Checklist, bibliography and quantitative data of the arthropods of Hispaniola. Zootaxa, 4749(1), 001–668. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4749.1.1
Quensel, C. (1806). [New taxa]. En C. J. Schönherr (Ed.), Synonymia Insectorum, oder Versuch einer Synonymie aller bisher bekannten Insecten; nach Fabricii Systema Eleutheratorum geordnet, mit Berichtigungen und Anmerkungen wie auch Beschreibungen neuer Arten. Erster Band. Eleutherata oder Käfer. Erster Theil. Lethrus ... Scolytes. A. Nordström., xxii+ 293 pp.
Sagra, R. (1857). Historia física, política y natural de la isla de Cuba. Biblioteca digital Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), 7, 44–49.
Santos, W. E., Alves, A. C., & Duarte, A. J. (2014). Beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera) associated with pig carcasses exposed in a Caatinga area, Northeastern Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 74(3), 49–55. https://doi.org/10.1590/bjb.2014.0072
Schmidt, J. (1893). Zwölf neue Phelister (Coleopt. Histeridae). Entomologische Nachrichten, 19, 8l–91.
Segura, N. A., Usaquén, W., Sánchez, M. C., Chuaire, L., & Bello, F. (2009). Succession pattern of cadaverous entomofauna in a semi-rural area of Bogotá, Colombia. Forensic Science International, 187(1–3), 66–72. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.02.018
Sokolov, A. V. (2005). Aditions to Hister beetles (Coleoptera: Histeridae) fauna of Cuba, with description of new species of genus Iliotona Carnochan, 1917. Russian Entomological Journal, 14(1), 83–85.
Sokolov, A. V. (2016). Description of a new species of Carcinops (Coleoptera: Histeridae) from Cuba. Russian Entomological Journal, 25(3), 237–238.
Yélamos, T. (2002). Fauna Ibérica. Coleoptera. Histeridae. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 17, 51.
Aballay, F. H., Murúa, A. F., Acosta, J. C., & Centeno, N. D. (2012). Succession of carrion fauna in the arid region of San Juan province, Argentina: Its forensic relevance. Neotropical Entomology, 41, 27–31.
Arriagada, G., Jofré, F. N., & Aballay, F. H. (2019). Nueva especie de Euspilotus Lewis de Argentina (Coleoptera: Histeridae). Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, 21(1), 7–15.
Bala, M., & Kaur, P. (2014). Insect faunal succession on buried piece of pork in the state of Punjab (India): A preliminary study. Journal of Forensic Research, 5, 252. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7145.1000252
Battán-Horenstein, M., Rosso, B., & García, M. D. (2012). Seasonal structure and dynamics of sarcosaprophagous fauna on pig carrion in a rural area of Cordoba (Argentina): Their importance in forensic science. Forensic Science International, 217(1–3), 146–156.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.10.043
Calzolari, M., Defilippo, F., Zani, G., Colombo, M., & Dottori, M. (2014). Characterization of necrophagus entomofauna in a typical agricultural area in Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy). Entomology, 2, 73–78.
Castillo-Miralbés, M. (2002). Estudio de la entomofauna asociada en el Alto Aragón (España). Monografías Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, 6, 1–94.
Caterino, M. S., & Tischechkin, A. K. (2015). Phylogeny and generic limits in New World Exosternini (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Histerinae). Systematic Entomology, 40, 109–110. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12095
Cobo, A., & Lancis, S. (1981). La putrefacción cadavérica al aire libre. Estudio médico-legal en las provincias de Santiago de Cuba, Granma y Guantánamo. Revista Actualidad de Medicina Legal, 1, 4–66.
Genaro, J. A., & Tejuca, A. E. (2001). Patterns of endemism and biogeography of Cuban insects. In: Woods, C. A. & Sergile, F. E. (eds.). Biogeography of the West Indies: Patterns and perspectives, 15–33. 2nd ed. CRC Press, 582 pp.
Gundlach, J. C. (1891). Contribución a la entomología cubana. Parte quinta: Coleópteros. Imp. de A. Alvarez y Comp, Riela núm. 40. La Habana, 71 pp.
Kovarik, P. W., & Caterino, M. S. (2000). Histeridae: 212–227. En Arnett, R. H., & Thomas, M.C. (Eds.). (2000). American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482274325
Lackner, T., Miles, Y. Z., Kindler, C., Motyka, M., & Balke, M. (2024). Saprininae: Phylogeny, biogeography and a new classification of the subfamily (Coleoptera: Histeridae). Systematic Entomology, 49(1), 48–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12606
Lamoth-Mayet, Y., & Posada, J. A. (2024). La Entomología Criminalística en Cuba: Proyecciones para su desarrollo. Revista Científica Multidisciplinar FARMHOUSE Ciencia & Tecnologia, 3(5), 10–13.
LeConte, J. E. (1860). Description of new species of the coleopterous family Histeridae. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 11(1859), 310–317.
Lundyshev, D. S. (2017). New records of Atholus beetle species (Coleoptera, Histeridae) from Tanzania. Euroasian Entomological Journal, 16(1), 73–74.
Mariani, R., Mancuso, R. G., Varela, G. L., & Inda, A. M. (2014). Entomofauna of a buried body: Study of the exhumation of a human cadaver in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Forensic Science International, 237, 19–26.
Marseul, S. A. (1854). Essai monographique sur la famille des histérides (Suite). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, (3) 1, 447–553.
Mazur, S. W. (1972). The Scientific Results of the Hungarian Soil Zoological Expeditions to South America, 22. The species of the family Histeridae (Coleoptera). Annales Histürico-Naturales Müsei Nation Alis Hungarici, 64, 184.
Megna, Y. S., Lamoth-Mayet, Y., Caterino, M. S., & Lackner, T. (2021). Phelister Marseul, 1854 in Cuba: first West Indies records of Phelister completus Schmidt, 1893, and notes on other Cuban species (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Histerinae). Check List, 17(1), 39–44.
https://doi.org/10.15560/17.1.39
Mise, K. M., Correa, R. C., & Almeida, L. M. (2013). Coleoptera fauna found on fresh and frozen rabbit carcasses in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 73(3), 543–48. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-69842013000300012
Naranjo, C., Cruz, Y., & Mayea, Y. (2009). Artrópodos presentes en la putrefacción de cadáveres de cerdos (Sus scrofa) en Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, 44, 441–447.
Paykull, G. (1811). Monographia Histeroidum. Upsaliae: Stenhammar & Pamblad, 114 pp.
Peck, S. B. (2005). A checklist of the beetles of Cuba with data on distribution and bionomics (Insecta: Coleoptera). Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, 18, 123–125.
Peck, S. B., Ruiz-Baliú, A. E., & Garcés, G. G. (1998). The cave-inhabiting beetles of Cuba (Insecta: Coleoptera): diversity, distribution and ecology. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, 60(3), 156–166.
Perez-Gelabert, D. E. (2020). Checklist, bibliography and quantitative data of the arthropods of Hispaniola. Zootaxa, 4749(1), 001–668. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4749.1.1
Quensel, C. (1806). [New taxa]. En C. J. Schönherr (Ed.), Synonymia Insectorum, oder Versuch einer Synonymie aller bisher bekannten Insecten; nach Fabricii Systema Eleutheratorum geordnet, mit Berichtigungen und Anmerkungen wie auch Beschreibungen neuer Arten. Erster Band. Eleutherata oder Käfer. Erster Theil. Lethrus ... Scolytes. A. Nordström., xxii+ 293 pp.
Sagra, R. (1857). Historia física, política y natural de la isla de Cuba. Biblioteca digital Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC), 7, 44–49.
Santos, W. E., Alves, A. C., & Duarte, A. J. (2014). Beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera) associated with pig carcasses exposed in a Caatinga area, Northeastern Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 74(3), 49–55. https://doi.org/10.1590/bjb.2014.0072
Schmidt, J. (1893). Zwölf neue Phelister (Coleopt. Histeridae). Entomologische Nachrichten, 19, 8l–91.
Segura, N. A., Usaquén, W., Sánchez, M. C., Chuaire, L., & Bello, F. (2009). Succession pattern of cadaverous entomofauna in a semi-rural area of Bogotá, Colombia. Forensic Science International, 187(1–3), 66–72. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.02.018
Sokolov, A. V. (2005). Aditions to Hister beetles (Coleoptera: Histeridae) fauna of Cuba, with description of new species of genus Iliotona Carnochan, 1917. Russian Entomological Journal, 14(1), 83–85.
Sokolov, A. V. (2016). Description of a new species of Carcinops (Coleoptera: Histeridae) from Cuba. Russian Entomological Journal, 25(3), 237–238.
Yélamos, T. (2002). Fauna Ibérica. Coleoptera. Histeridae. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 17, 51.
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How to Cite
Lamoth-Mayet, Y., & Megna, Y. S. (2026). Morphoecological groups of criminalistic importance of the family Histeridae (Coleoptera: Polyphaga) in Cuba. Novitates Caribaea, (27), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.33800/nc.vi27.386
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