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Biotope or habitat preferences are important species characteristics that can be used for understanding their ecology, as well as their conservation, and even as a tool for crime investigations for detection of post-mortem body manipulation. However, the characterization of species- habitat preferences can be difficult. There are several limiting factors like lack of quantitative data and reliance on anecdotal evidence for this trait. Further, we must consider the reaction to the border between two neighboring hab...

The standard procedure for fluid preservation of insects consists of two steps. First, the specimen is killed and prepared in a fixative fluid and then transferred to a storage fluid. Recommendations for using specific chemicals or mixtures differ depending on the size and anatomy of the animal and vary among the authors. However, controlled comparative studies are often missing. The ideal method should preserve the specimen-s morphology as well as its genetic information. We have investigated the effect of 12 com...

Carrion beetles are an important part of the decomposition processes in the ecosystems of the North Hemisphere. Along with the flies, they are the main consumers of dead animal tissues, thusdriving the nutrients from the carcass to other parts of the ecosystem. These animals can also be used as bio-indicators in forensic entomology, where they help to identify the time of the death and post-mortem body manipulation. However, for using the beetles in this manner, it is essential to identify seasonal cycles in the l...

Carrion beetles of genus Thantophilus are an important part of the North Hemisphere ecosystems. They provide valuable ecosystem services by promoting nutrient cycling and biological control of pests. They also regularly occurs on human remains and some of them are established forensic bio-indicators as they could provide valuable information regarding time of death and possible body manipulation. Thanatophilus sinuatus is one of the most common species of necrophagous beetles in the Czech Republic and our goal was...