scholarly journals Technical Note: Effects of Makeshift Storage in Different Liquors on Larvae of the Blowflies Calliphora vicina and Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Senta Niederegger
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Entomology ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Lucilia Sericata ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Calliphora Vicina ◽  
High Alcohol ◽  
Post Feeding ◽  
Storage Effects ◽  
Unexpected Findings ◽  
Medium Storage

Unexpected findings of forensically important insects might prompt makeshift storage in alternative liquids if the proper equipment is lacking. The assessment of whether such evidence can still be used and correctly interpreted can be difficult. In this study, the effects of using alcoholic beverages as storing agents for post-feeding larvae of Calliphora vicina and Lucilia sericata were analyzed. Larvae were killed with boiling water (HWK) or placed alive into four alcoholic liquids: two spirits, vodka and brandy, and two liquors, Jägermeister and peppermint schnapps. Storage effects were documented after one day, nine days, and one month and compared to larvae treated according to guidelines for forensic entomology. Results show that the method of killing larvae is more important than the storing medium. Storage of HWK larvae in high-alcohol/low-sugar spirits had almost negligible effects on both species, while all fresh larvae shrank significantly. High sugar contents of the beverages might additionally lead to shrinkage of larvae.

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.

scholarly journals DIVERSITY OF NECROPHAGOUS BLOWFLY (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE) OF MEDICAL AND VETERINARY IMPORTANCE IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS IN CÓRDOBA (ARGENTINA)

Caldasia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moira Battán-Horenstein ◽  
Laura M. Bellis ◽  
Raquel M. Gleiser
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
South America ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Lucilia Sericata ◽  
Calliphora Vicina ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Chrysomya Albiceps ◽  
Veterinary Importance ◽  
The City

<p>The complex nature of urban environments can have different effects on species diversity and composition. The aim of this work was to characterize the assemblage of Calliphoridae regarding its richness, abundance, and synanthropy in Córdoba City, Argentina. Three sampling sites differing in their distance to the border of the city and degree of urbanization were selected. In each site, collections were carried out with 12 traps baited with cow liver (200 g per trap) that were operated for five consecutive days during three different times of the year, in April, June and August 2013. A total of 341 adult calliphorids from nine species, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), L. eximia (Wiedemann), L. cuprina (Wiedemann), L. cluvia (Walker), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), C. megacephala (Fabricius) and C. chloropyga (Wiedemann) were collected. Lucilia sericata was the most abundant species followed by C. vicina. Species diversity, composition and abundance changed between sites, richness being lowest at the most urbanized site. All species are cosmopolitan except Sarconesia chlorogaster, whose distribution is restricted to South America. These results are consistent with a homogenization of the fauna in urban environments.</p>

scholarly journals Application of research in the field of forensic entomology for determining the time of death in dogs

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-38
Author(s):  
PIOTR LISTOS ◽  
MAGDALENA GRYZIŃSKA ◽  
JUSTYNA BATKOWSKA ◽  
MAŁGORZATA DYLEWSKA ◽  
KATARZYNA CZEPIEL-MIL
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Entomology ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
The Body ◽  
Calliphora Vicina ◽  
Developmental Cycle ◽  
Time Of Death ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Main Experiment ◽  
Ambient Conditions

Precisely determined time of death is one of the most important pieces of information obtained during a post-mortem investigation. There are several traditional methods for determining time of death, the most important of which are evaluation of early post-mortem changes, such as the change in body temperature. The study was aimed at identifying insects collected from the body and establishing the time of death by observing the developmental cycle of the indicator species Calliphora vicina. The material for the main experiment was the carcass of a dog. The length of the developmental cycles of insects depends on ambient conditions, so studies should take as many criteria as possible into account. Succession of arthropods, as well as the species composition and indicator insects of particular stages of decomposition, is very similar in human and animal carcasses. The results obtained were considered with respect to the time that had passed since the death of the animal. Experiments on dog carcasses may in the future contribute to the development of research enabling determination of the time of death of animals, which is a subject of increasing interest in forensic veterinary medicine....

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