scholarly journals Impact of Comingled Heterospecific Assemblages on Developmentally Based Estimates of the Post-Mortem Interval—A Study with Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Phormia regina (Meigen) and Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 280
Author(s):  
Krystal R. Hans ◽  
Sherah L. Vanlaerhoven
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Lucilia Sericata ◽  
Phormia Regina ◽  
Calliphora Vicina ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Blow Flies ◽  
Post Mortem Interval

Estimates of the minimum post-mortem interval (mPMI) using the development rate of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are common in modern forensic entomology casework. These estimates are based on single species developing in the absence of heterospecific interactions. Yet, in real-world situations, it is not uncommon to have 2 or more blow fly species developing on a body. Species interactions have the potential to change the acceptance of resources as suitable for oviposition, the timing of oviposition, growth rate, size and development time of immature stages, as well as impacting the survival of immature stages to reach adult. This study measured larval development and growth rate of the blow flies Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826), Phormia regina (Meigen, 1826) and Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) over five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 °C), in the presence of conspecifics or two-species heterospecific assemblages. Temperature and species treatment interacted such that L. sericata larvae gained mass more rapidly when in the presence of P. regina at 20 and 30 °C, however only developed faster at first instar. At later stages, the presence of P. regina slowed development of L. sericata immatures. Development time of C. vicina immatures was not affected by the presence of P. regina, however larvae gained mass more slowly. Development time of P. regina immatures was faster in the presence of either L. sericata or C. vicina until third instar, at which point, the presence of L. sericata was neutral whereas C. vicina negatively impacted development time. Phormia regina larvae gained mass more rapidly in the presence of L. sericata at 20 °C but were negatively impacted at 25 °C by the presence of either L. sericata or C. vicina. The results of this study indicate that metrics such as development time or larval mass used for estimating mPMI with blow flies are impacted by the presence of comingled heterospecific blow fly assemblages. As the effects of heterospecific assemblages are not uniformly positive or negative between stages, temperatures or species combinations, more research into these effects is vital. Until then, caution should be used when estimating mPMI in cases with multiple blow fly species interacting on a body.

Characterization of the Volatiles’ Profiles of the Eggs of Forensically Relevant Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Blow Flies by SPME-Facilitated GC-MS

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 994-1005
Author(s):  
Justine E Giffen-Lemieux ◽  
Koji Okuda ◽  
Jennifer Y Rosati ◽  
Rabi A Musah
Keyword(s):  
Solid Phase ◽  
Lucilia Sericata ◽  
Phormia Regina ◽  
Organosulfur Compounds ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Headspace Volatiles ◽  
Blow Flies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Published Research

Abstract The attraction of necrophagous insects, particularly blow flies, to corpses and carrion is of ecological, economic, and agricultural importance, although the mechanisms by which it occurs are not well understood. Much of the published research on blow fly attractants has focused on volatiles emitted from carrion surrogates, but little attention has been given to the possibility that blow fly eggs themselves may emit chemical cues that are responsible for conspecific and heterospecific insect attraction. In this study, the headspace volatiles emitted from eggs representing two aggregated oviposition events that were collected 1 mo apart from two species of the Calliphoridae family (Order: Diptera), Lucilia sericata (Meigen), and Phormia regina (Meigen) were analyzed via solid-phase microextraction-facilitated GC-MS. The volatiles’ profiles were found to be consistent between samples representing the same species, but unique between the two species. Over 100 molecules covering a wide range of compound classes that included alcohols, aldehydes, esters, amines, ketones, and organosulfur compounds were identified. The profile of volatiles emitted from the L. sericata eggs contained several alkanes and aldehydes, whereas salient features of the P. regina headspace included numerous esters and ketones. Between the two species, 42 compounds were shared, several of which were carboxylic acids. Little overlap between the range of compounds detected and those reported to be emitted from decomposing remains was observed.

Effect of Burning on Minimum Post-Mortem Interval (minPMI) Estimation from an Entomological Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amoret P. Whitaker
Keyword(s):  
Larval Development ◽  
Current Literature ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Blow Flies ◽  
Post Mortem Interval ◽  
Unexplained Death ◽  
Major Study ◽  
Oviposition Sites

Forensic entomologists are often employed to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval of bodies in cases of untimely or unexplained death. Although some cases have involved burnt remains, few studies have been carried out to assess whether entomology can still be utilised. Only one major study has been carried out which determined that even after a major house fire, blow fly larvae can still be identified and used to estimate a minimum post-mortem interval. Most studies have investigated whether burning affects the attraction of blow flies to burnt bodies, and their subsequent oviposition. Results vary, but suggest that blow flies may be more likely to oviposit on bodies which have undergone considerable burning, where the splitting of the skin has resulted in the exposure of suitable oviposition sites, whereas bodies only mildly burnt may be too dry for oviposition. In addition, although most studies have utilised some type of accelerant to facilitate the burning, this has not been taken into account with regards to blow fly attraction or larval development. This review paper gives an overview of the current literature relating to burnt bodies and the use of entomology to estimate a minimum post-mortem interval in such cases.

Spatial and Seasonal Distribution of Forensically Important Blow Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1231-1238
Author(s):  
K A Williams ◽  
M H Villet
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Seasonal Distribution ◽  
Lucilia Sericata ◽  
Chicken Liver ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Blow Flies ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Forensic Investigations

AbstractThe seasonal activity of adults of eight forensically important blow fly species [Calliphora croceipalpis (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Jaennicke, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), L. cuprina (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Chrysomya chloropyga (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Ch. albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Ch. marginalis (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Ch. putoria (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Ch. megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)] was quantified from collections in Makhanda, South Africa. Flies were collected in traps baited with chicken liver and placed in the field at eight locations for four consecutive days each fortnight for 14 mo. The seasonal distribution of each species compared well to published seasonal distributions of these blow flies elsewhere in South Africa, with evidence of year-to-year variation within seasons that might be explained by weather. This information is important for determining when and where certain species are likely to occur and will be of use in forensic investigations and myiasis management plans.

scholarly journals Flies Do Not Jump to Conclusions: Estimation of the Minimum Post-Mortem Interval for a Partly Skeletonized Body Based on Larvae of Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Senta Niederegger ◽  
Gita Mall
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Entomology ◽  
Female Body ◽  
The Other ◽  
Phormia Regina ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Post Mortem Interval ◽  
Other Hand

Skeletonization is often perceived as an indicator of long post-mortem intervals. The finding of feeding larvae of first colonizers, on the other hand, indicates days. We present a case in which both findings were present. Larvae of Phormia regina, aged 9 days, and skeletonization of the head and part of the thorax were both found on an unidentified female body. Identification of dentures eventually led to resolution of the case and a confession, which settled the seeming contradiction in favor of forensic entomology.

A preliminary investigation of insect succession on carrion in Calabria (southern Italy)

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Brandmayr ◽  
Silvia Greco ◽  
Tullia Zetto Brandmayr Brandmayr ◽  
Teresa Bonacci ◽  
Claudio Tersaruolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Musca Domestica ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Calliphora Vicina ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Insect Fauna ◽  
Chrysomya Albiceps ◽  
Post Mortem Interval

AbstractWe present data from the first study of successional patterns of insect fauna in Calabria (southern Italy). The aim was to identify and qualitatively assess the major taxa of forensic importance in this region. Studies were conducted in autumn-winter 2006, summer 2007 and winter 2008 in the Botanical Garden, University of Calabria. Over 50 taxa were collected and identified. The most abundant fly species were Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus, 1758), L. sericata (Meigen, 1826), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, C. vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758), Sarcophaga spp., Amobia sp ., Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758, and Muscina stabulans ((Fallén). The successional patterns, relative abundance of adult sarcosaprophagous insects, carcass decay, diversity and seasonality of species are described and the taxa useful for estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) are identified. The data of this study could be very useful for further forensic investigations in southern Italy.

Studies on the Influence of the Environment on the Sheep Blow-Fly Lucilia sericata Meig.

Parasitology ◽  
1936 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Evans
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Seasonal Succession ◽  
Lucilia Sericata ◽  
Intermediate Position ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Calliphora Erythrocephala ◽  
Blow Flies ◽  
Resistant Species ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Length Of Life

The comparative resistance to high temperature and various humidities of four species of blow-flies, Calliphora erythrocephala Meig., Lucilia sericata Meig., Sarcophaga falculata Pand. and Phormia groenlandica Zett. is studied. It is shown that Phormia groenlandica is the most resistant species and Calliphora erythrocephala the least resistant species, with Lucilia sericata and Sarcophaga falculata occypying an intermediate position.This order of resistance is correlated negatively with the order of the seasonal succession of the species.It is suggested that certain differences in the length of life of males and females subjected to various humidities is brought about by an “ageing” factor.

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