Insects found associated with corpse can be used as one of the indicators in estimating
postmortem interval (PMI). The objective of this study was to compare the stages of decomposition
and faunal succession between a partially burnt pig (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) and natural pig (as
control). The burning simulated a real crime whereby the victim was burnt by murderer. Two
young pigs weighed approximately 10 kg were used in this study. Both pigs died from pneumonia
and immediately placed in an oil palm plantation near a pig farm in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor,
Malaysia. One pig was partially burnt by 1-liter petrol while the other served as control. Both
carcasses were visited twice per day for the first week and once thereafter. Adult flies and larvae
on the carcasses were collected and later processed in a forensic entomology laboratory. Results
showed that there was no significant difference between the rate of decomposition and sequence
of faunal succession on both pig carcasses. Both carcasses were completely decomposed to remain
stage after nine days. The species of flies visiting the pig carcasses consisted of blow flies
(Chrysomya megac ephala, Chrysomya ruf i fac i e s , Hemipyr e l l ia l igur r i ens ) , flesh fly
(Sarcophagidae.), muscid fly (Ophyra spinigera), soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), coffin fly
(Phoridae) and scavenger fly (Sepsidae). The only difference noted was in the number of adult
flies, whereby more flies were seen in the control carcass. Faunal succession on both pig carcasses
was in the following sequence: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Phoridae and lastly
Stratiomyidae. However, there was overlap in the appearance of members of these families.
Blowflies continued to oviposit on both carcasses. Hence postmortem interval (PMI) can still be
estimated from the partially burnt pig carcass.