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Entomology and the Law: Flies as Forensic Indicators

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... Na da morte é indispensável para o esclarecimento dos fatos. Em tais casos, os insetos ali presentes poderão ser subsídios para o cálculo de um intervalo pós-morte (IPM) mínimo com base na data estimada em que as espécies iniciaram a colonização do cadáver [4][5][6][7][8]. ...
... Estimar o IPM é possível devido ao fato de os insetos necrófagos localizarem os cadáveres e iniciarem a colonização minutos ou poucas horas após a morte, depositando seus ovos ou larvas [6,7,9]. Essa é uma das utilidades decorridas da presença de insetos em cadáveres e está entre as várias informações providas pela Entomologia Forense, ciência aplicada que tem por prática pericial, todo corpo encontrado em decomposição, quando não há evidências da causa da morte, é tratado como morte suspeita até que se esclareça o que provocou o óbito. ...
... Essa é uma das utilidades decorridas da presença de insetos em cadáveres e está entre as várias informações providas pela Entomologia Forense, ciência aplicada que tem por prática pericial, todo corpo encontrado em decomposição, quando não há evidências da causa da morte, é tratado como morte suspeita até que se esclareça o que provocou o óbito. v. 13, n. 5, p. 65-73, 202413, n. 5, p. 65-73, ISSN 2237 finalidade utilizar o conhecimento sobre os insetos em processos judiciais [4][5][6][7][8]. ...
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O presente estudo é uma análise sobre a utilização da entomologia forense em casos de morte violenta ou suspeita examinados pelo Núcleo de Criminalística de João Pessoa. Foram analisados 40 laudos periciais contendo informações entomológicas emitidos pelo setor entre 2016 e 2018. No total, 10 espécies de Diptera e uma de Coleoptera foram utilizadas para estimativa do intervalo pós-morte (IPM). Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) e Peckia chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) foram as espécies mais frequentes. Neste estudo, é apresentado o primeiro registro de Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann, 1830), Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) e P. chrysostoma tendo sido utilizadas na estimativa de IPM no Brasil.
... Greenberg's forensic research publications concerned a wide variety of topics at a time when the opportunities to pursue novel questions were seemingly endless. (For the best single description, see Greenberg and Kunich 2002.) J.D.W. was a Ph.D. student under his direction during the late 1980s and early 1990s. ...
... Greenberg's notably pioneering and influential published forensic ideas or results included proposing the use of specimen age measured in accumulated degree hours (Greenberg 1985), comprehensive morphological species-diagnostic information for larvae (Greenberg and Szyska 1984, Liu and Greenberg 1989, Tantawi and Greenberg 1993a and eggs (Greenberg and Singh 1995), criteria for distinguishing feeding and postfeeding larvae (Greenberg 1991), the first description of the effect of preservative fluid formulation on larval size (Tantawi and Greenberg 1993b), the first examination of nocturnal oviposition from a forensic standpoint (Greenberg 1990), the first observation that rain can "revive" a desiccated corpse leading to a second bout of oviposition and a highly non-standard succession pattern (Tantawi et al. 1996), and development data for the largest set of forensic species generated by a single lab (Greenberg and Szyska 1984, Greenberg 1991, Greenberg and Tantawi 1993, Greenberg and Wells 1998, Greenberg and Kunich 2002. Perhaps most unique in the history of the field was a comprehensive evaluation of the degree to which forensic entomology satisfies US legal standards concerning expert testimony (Greenberg and Kunich 2002). ...
... Greenberg's notably pioneering and influential published forensic ideas or results included proposing the use of specimen age measured in accumulated degree hours (Greenberg 1985), comprehensive morphological species-diagnostic information for larvae (Greenberg and Szyska 1984, Liu and Greenberg 1989, Tantawi and Greenberg 1993a and eggs (Greenberg and Singh 1995), criteria for distinguishing feeding and postfeeding larvae (Greenberg 1991), the first description of the effect of preservative fluid formulation on larval size (Tantawi and Greenberg 1993b), the first examination of nocturnal oviposition from a forensic standpoint (Greenberg 1990), the first observation that rain can "revive" a desiccated corpse leading to a second bout of oviposition and a highly non-standard succession pattern (Tantawi et al. 1996), and development data for the largest set of forensic species generated by a single lab (Greenberg and Szyska 1984, Greenberg 1991, Greenberg and Tantawi 1993, Greenberg and Wells 1998, Greenberg and Kunich 2002. Perhaps most unique in the history of the field was a comprehensive evaluation of the degree to which forensic entomology satisfies US legal standards concerning expert testimony (Greenberg and Kunich 2002). ...
Article
Bernard Greenberg was a groundbreaking scientist in the worlds of medical-veterinary and forensic entomology , studying the ability of flies to serve as a vector of human and other vertebrate pathogens. His work also extended beyond these topics, creating key studies on flies and their associated microbial ecology. These efforts led to numerous research publications and two books on flies and their associated microorganisms. Greenberg served a pioneering role in establishing the field of forensic entomology in the USA later in his career, publishing key papers and a book that are highly cited to this day. We present a review of Dr Greenberg's scientific contributions concerning flies and disease, insect/microbe interactions, and insects as forensic indicators.
... When combined, the median area's characters can provide important information to distinguish eggs from members of Calliphoridae ( Figure 1F,G) [56,59,63]. The combination of characters makes it possible to differentiate eggs from those of very similar species. ...
... The larvae body resembles a cone, with the mouth opening at the tapered end and the anal segment and the posterior spiracle at the truncated end [10,65]. This seems to be the most ergonomically efficient structure for tissue feeding and burial for pupation [63]. ...
... A possible explanation is that these horns are present in the pupa enclosed within the puparium and are projected outwards through increased hemolymph pressure. This rupture occurs in a region covered by a membrane and can occur approximately 24 h after pupa formation [63]. ...
Article
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With more than 125,000 described species, Diptera are considered a megadiverse order. However, immatures display great morphological homogeneity, making few species of Diptera from the Cyclorrhaphan group easy to identify. The main species of medical, sanitary, and forensic importance are found in this group, highlighting the relevance of their description. The uniformity of the group limits sensitive techniques for identifying immatures; therefore, this study reports characters that can be used to identify these insects using scanning electron microscopy. Based on an investigation and analysis of the relevant scientific literature, we suggest combining techniques for accurate morphological identifications of flies.
... Other external morphological features of pupa have resulted in categorizing the intrapuparial period into different landmark stages. The 4 main stages identified are precryptocephalic pupal stage, cryptocephalic pupal stage, phanerocephalic pupal stage, and pharate adult (Greenberg andKunich 2002, Li et al. 2023). ...
... This was followed by the phanerocephalic pupal stage denoted by defining the pupal body into 3 segments: head, thorax, and abdomen. Finally, the pharate adult was the form of adult within the puparium with their epidermal cells separated from pupal cuticle (Greenberg andKunich 2002, Li et al. 2023). ...
... The 4 apolysis phases of the intrapuparial process; precryptocephalic pupal stage, cryptocephalic pupal stage, phanerocephalic pupal stage, and pharate stage of L. sericata were distinguished using a photo series that indicated the development of characteristics and the pupation character checklist at each temperature (Figs. 9 and 10). Specific baseline characters were determined to define each phase based on previous publications (Greenberg andKunich 2002, Karabey andSert 2018). ...
Article
Determining the minimum postmortem interval (minPMI) from an entomological perspective relies mainly on development data recorded for various species of flies collected from a crime scene or suspicious death. This study focused on the larval and pupal development of Lucilia sericata (Meigen), with an emphasis on the changes of the external morphology of the puparium and its pupal content throughout the duration of metamorphosis. Colonies of L. sericata were reared on 3 types of swine tissue (skeletal muscle, liver tissue, and heart tissue) at 2 different temperature regimes; 24 ± 1 °C and 30 ± 1 °C. The overall developmental time, larval width and length, and inner and outer pupal morphology changes were observed and recorded. The results show that: (i) temperature significantly influenced overall development time, as well as changes in larval width and length, but this effect was not dependent on tissue type; (ii) larval development duration was longest on heart tissue, and shortest on skeletal muscle for both temperatures; and (iii) pupation was longest for larvae reared on skeletal muscle at 24 ± 1 °C, and on liver tissue at 30 ± 1 °C, while those larvae reared on liver tissue at 24 ± 1 °C and heart tissue at 30 ± 1 °C had the shortest pupation period. A seven-character checklist plus 4 landmark stages were developed comprising the external morphology of the puparium and pupal content changes of L. sericata. In conclusion, the study provides larval and pupal development timetables, as well as checklists and photo guides for pupal character development that may be useful for future postmortem determinations.
... Muscidae is a large family of flies many of which are synanthropic (strongly associated with man), and it has often led to unintentional transportation and spread of these species across the globe. Being synanthropic, these flies are found in large numbers near human habitations and are thus carrier/vector of many diseases and their close association with humans make them forensically important as well (Greenberg & Kunich, 2002). Common members of this family are the house flies, stable flies, horn flies and latrine flies. ...
... Common members of this family are the house flies, stable flies, horn flies and latrine flies. The adults prefer to feed on decaying animal or plant materials, dung or excrement, and open wounds (Greenberg & Kunich, 2002). Muscids are small to medium-sized flies, dull grey to dark in colour with few having metallic sheen (Fig. 6). ...
... This method employs the age of immature insects that have fed on a body for minimum PMI estimations. This approach does not estimate the maximum PMI, because an unknown period may elapse between death and deposition of eggs or larvae (Greenberg & Kunich, 2002). By assessing the insect fauna collected from the crime scene and taking into account other abiotic factors, the degree of development of forensically important insects could be calculated and thus PMI estimations ranging from less than 1 day to more than a month could be made. ...
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Forensic Entomology is the study of the application of insects/arthropods in criminal investigations. The coded language of insects has been effectively decoded and used by Forensic Entomologists in solving homicidal cases. Forensic Entomologist can help to establish the post-mortem interval (PMI) of a body, geographic location of death, site of trauma and if the death has occurred due to poisoning or drug overdose. There are two ways of using insects in solving death cases: (a) Deciphering maggot age and development, (b) Insect faunal succession during different stages of decomposition. Calliphoridae (Blow flies), Sarcophagidae (Flesh flies) and Muscidae (House flies) of order Diptera (true flies) are the predominant species involved in forensic investigations. These flies possess the capability of finding a dead body within minutes following death. The flies immediately oviposit/larviposit on the carcass and larvae hatch within 12–24 h depending upon the temperature of the death scene. The larvae of these flies are voracious feeders and possess the capacity as well as capability to consume a carcass in less than a week. The close association of these immature stages on a carcass, their development rates are tapped by the forensic experts to solve homicidal cases. The carcass during decomposition undergoes rapid physical, chemical and biological changes, and attract varied groups of insects. Certain species prefer the carcass during early period of decomposition, like the true flies, some prefer the dead body during its decay or dry stage (beetles, ants) and some arrive to feed on insects present on the corpse. Therefore, with the knowledge about regional insect fauna, their succession pattern of colonization, the insect assemblage on carrion is used by an expert to calculate the minimum time since death. Besides, different groups of insect species assemblages are found on decomposing carcass in different habitats and environments. Apart from calculating Post-Mortem Interval (PMI), with the knowledge of geographical distribution of insect species, an expert can determine whether the body has been moved from one geographic location to the other. Furthermore, the insect larval forms found on a carcass could be tested for death due to drugs or poisoning as the larvae feed on flesh and accumulate drugs ingested by a deceased person. Forensic Entomology is a fast-emerging field in forensic sciences and has become an added tool in legal investigations in the developed countries. Considering the applicability of this field, it becomes imperative that this branch of forensic sciences should be encouraged, popularized, and recognised in the developing countries as well.KeywordsForensic entomologyStages of decompositionCalliphoridaeSarcophagidaeMuscidaeBeetlesADHADDDNA barcodingCuticular hydrocarbon profilesPMI estimationsHomicidal cases
... Insects of the family Calliphoridae (Insecta, Diptera, Oestroidea), also called blow flies, have quite diverse eating and behavioral habits, including necrophagy (Ferrar 1987). Consequently, many blow fly species are commonly reported in decomposing corpses using this resource as a food source or for the development of their immature stages and can be found in all stages of decomposition (Greenberg and Kunich 2002;Carvalho et al. 2004;Thyssen et al. 2018). In addition, adult blow flies are the first insects to discover and colonize vertebrate remains (Carvalho et al. 2004). ...
... In addition, adult blow flies are the first insects to discover and colonize vertebrate remains (Carvalho et al. 2004). The estimate of the time elapsed since a blow fly larva, collected on a cadaver, hatched from its egg can be done in two ways: by phenological information such as weight or length (Staerkeby 2001) or by calculating the number of degree-hours (or degree-days) that would be required to complete development and subtracting this from the known total number of days required for complete larval development (Greenberg and Kunich 2002). However, species identification is essential for any of the chosen ways to know larval age (Thyssen 2010). ...
... It is difficult for anyone who elaborates a dichotomous key to define which characters and states are the most suitable for accurately identifying a taxon, particularly when taxa are not sufficiently distinct from each other (Goharimanesh et al. 2021). High-resolution images of diagnostic morphological characters and proposition of new characters for examination, although it can greatly enhance the identification, as well as the recognition of cryptic species, have been little explored in previous traditional keys for larvae of Calliphoridae species (Greenberg and Szyska 1984;Greenberg and Kunich 2002;Florez and Wolff 2009). Keys that cover a restricted amount of characters may also be limited, in terms of use, for non-specialists. ...
Article
Calliphoridae (Insecta, Diptera), popularly known as blow flies or carrion flies, as most are necrophagous comprises one of the most relevant families of insects on forensics. Currently, more than 1500 blow fly species are known, the majority of which can be found in the Old World. In the Neotropics, it is estimated that there are approximately 20 species of forensic importance. In view of the taxonomic impediment associated with the identification of immatures, in this study, we present an interactive identification key for third instar larvae of necrophagous Calliphoridae species. This key includes 12 Neotropical blow fly species of forensic importance, more than 70 pictures, schemes, and definitions glossary and is free to access.
... Knowing that forensic entomology is the exploitation of the result gathered from the study of insect or others relative organism collected on and around the death body to help solve crime during criminal investigation, knowledge of the distribution, biology, ecology and behavior of these organism can provide information on when, where and how a crime was committed (Erzinçlioglu, 2000;Goff, 2000;Byrd and Castner, 2001;Greenberg and Kunich, 2002;Amendt et al., 2004, 2007and Feugang Youmessi et al., 2012a, b and 2021 [40,45,39,46,4,48] . As argue by Kurahashi and Kirk-Springgs (2006) [13] and Zaime and Gautier (1989), the richest fauna is probably that of the Afrotropical region, with almost 340 valid species in 40 genera. ...
... Knowing that forensic entomology is the exploitation of the result gathered from the study of insect or others relative organism collected on and around the death body to help solve crime during criminal investigation, knowledge of the distribution, biology, ecology and behavior of these organism can provide information on when, where and how a crime was committed (Erzinçlioglu, 2000;Goff, 2000;Byrd and Castner, 2001;Greenberg and Kunich, 2002;Amendt et al., 2004, 2007and Feugang Youmessi et al., 2012a, b and 2021 [40,45,39,46,4,48] . As argue by Kurahashi and Kirk-Springgs (2006) [13] and Zaime and Gautier (1989), the richest fauna is probably that of the Afrotropical region, with almost 340 valid species in 40 genera. ...
... The collected arthropods belong to 12 Families and there were 3 species from three orders registered only in the study room ground (cockroaches: Blattodea, mosquitoes: Diptera, and silverfish: Thysanura); the presence of these insects only is due to the presence of carrions indoors. Forensic entomology has received great interest in the past decades [7,8,16] . In Egypt, Aly et al. [17] recorded 18 insect species on rabbits corpses in Upper Egypt; Abd El-Aziz and El Shehaby [18] identified 13 arthropods' taxa from uncovered rat carrions in an aerated environment in the spring season in Assiut; and Farag et al. [15] Collected 12 insect species from indoor rat carrions in summer. ...
... Five stages of decomposition were demonstrated in the current analysis; with few minor differences, similar observations were reported by others [15,17,19] . It is worth mentioning that Egyptian environmental conditions are the best for increasing arthropods richness, a fact discussed by some researchers [20,21] who recorded that Cimex lectularius is more predominant in temperate weathers, where directly exposure to the sun decreases the life cycle of insects [16] . The two factors most crucial to the breakdown of the body are temperature and arthropod access [6] . ...
... Ultimately, the pharate adult stage represented the form of an adult enclosed within the puparium, where the epidermal cells were distinct from the pupal cuticle. This classification aligns with established criteria outlined by Greenberg and Kunich (2002) [14], Li et al. (2023) [15], and Bambaradeniya et al. (2024) [16]. ...
... Ultimately, the pharate adult stage represented the form of an adult enclosed within the puparium, where the epidermal cells were distinct from the pupal cuticle. This classification aligns with established criteria outlined by Greenberg and Kunich (2002) [14], Li et al. (2023) [15], and Bambaradeniya et al. (2024) [16]. ...
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The present study investigates the developmental process of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) pupae and their dependency on soil composition, moisture levels, and temperature changes. This research holds implications for forensic and veterinary applications, providing crucial insights for estimating minimum postmortem intervals and managing myiasis-causing flies in diverse environments. Specifically, the study explores the impact of five moisture content levels in loam and sandy soils (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) on the pupal development of Ch. rufifacies under two distinct constant temperature regimes (24 ± 1 °C and 30 ± 1 °C). A significant correlation was observed between soil type and temperature regarding the time required to complete the pupal stages; however, moisture had no significant impact. Larvae exhibited varying survival rates across the two temperatures and five moisture levels in the two types of soils, particularly under extremely lower moisture conditions (0%) at 30 ± 1 °C, failing to progress to the pupariation stage. Additionally, growth parameters such as pupal length and width of the fully formed puparia were significantly impacted by temperature, soil type, and moisture level. Adult head width was systematically measured across different moisture levels and soil types, revealing distinct temperature-dependent responses. Furthermore, a sex-specific analysis highlighted that female Ch. rufifacies consistently displayed larger head widths and higher emergence rates compared to their male counterparts. This research enhances our understanding of the intricate interrelationship among three environmental variables: soil type, moisture level, and temperature, elucidating their collective impact on the pupation processes of dipterans.
... The attraction of adult calliphorids to a corpse may be due to putrative sulfur-based compounds and ammonium-rich compounds emitted from freshly decomposing tissues [45] or due to the pheromonal signals which draw the attention of gravid females to the carrion [46,47]. Gravid females deposit eggs in mucosal body openings, and/ or in body lesions and wounds [48]. Blowflies are encountered more frequently in the first few weeks of discovering body corpses; therefore, it could be used to detect minimum PMI more accurately than other carrion insects [33,38]. ...
... Lucilia cuprina is one of the first flies to colonize a corpse upon its death [49,50]. Although this fly has been found associated with animal carcasses and human corpses in various regions [15,48,[51][52][53][54], it was known as specific colonizer to dryer climate in India [55]. The blowfly maggots elevate temperature in carcasses, and this may have several evolutionary advantages including increased efficiency of food processing, gaining a competitive advantage over potential arrivals, reducing the predation level against them by accelerating development [56,57], and mitigating the effect of climatic conditions [58]. ...
Article
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The attraction of Calliphoridae flies, as initial colonizers, to human corpses within a short period following exposure was well studied. However, access to helpful data regarding blowflies' succession patterns is lacking in Egypt. Calliphoridae provides an important source of evidence for forensic/ criminal investigations. However, climate change is altering the distribution of invertebrate pests, including forensically important insects. A modern and continuous record of succession patterns of insects in Egypt will give crucial information and assist forensic investigators. Moreover, examining the link between the geographic distribution of insects and the location-specific climatic conditions will aid in assuming the future insects' distribution scenarios, which are needed in assessing the post-mortem interval. This review recorded several succession models of blowflies on vertebrate carrion in Egypt. Also, it focused on the impact of the regional environmental variations on the life cycle of Lucilia cuprina, one among the primary flies to occupy a cadaver upon its death.
... It is divided into three main areas focused on topics that are frequently the subject of litigation ( Figure 8). [13][14][15] . ...
... The fly also feeds on other animals, but does not capture them, so it accompanies the bed bug in order to take advantage of the food it kills. The genus Desmometopa may be kleptoparasites of predatory insects such as Redbots (Heteroptera) and such some spiders such as Homises and Nephiles ( Figure 12) [15,[17][18][19] . ...
Article
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Most Milichiidae species are very small and dark. Details of their biology have not been properly studied. It is known that the Milichiidae are associated with decomposing plant and animal matter, including animal and human corpses, a reason that has potential importance in their forensic importance; several species are myrmecophilous predators, pollinators and phoretic vectors. This journal aimed to investigate the bioecology, the bionomy, the biography and systematics of the Milichiidae family (Arthropoda: Insecta: Diptera). The research was carried out based on its systematic aspects and family characteristics. The review was inventoried from works published in national and international journals.
... Najčešća primjena forenzične entomologije je u sudskomedicinskim slučajevima kod ubojstava, samoubojstava, silovanja, fi zičkog zlostavljanja i krijumčarenja. DNA analizom kukaca može se: povezati osumnjičenog s mjestom zločina ili sa žrtvom, dokazati da je tijelo žrtve bilo pomicano i utvrditi vrijeme smrti žrtve (40,41). Analiza humane DNA izdvojene iz kukaca još je jedna bitna primjena molekularnih metoda u rasvjetljavanju zločina. ...
Article
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DNA analiza danas nedvojbeno ima nezamjenjivu ulogu u sveukupnim forenzičnim znanostima. Otkriće i primjena molekularnihSTR biljega značajno je unaprijedila forenzičnu DNA analizu. Najbolje ispitivani i najčešće uključivani u analize individualne i populacijske raznolikosti su tetranukleotidni STR biljezi.Uporaba SNP molekularnih biljega jedan je od novijih pristupa u populacijsko-genetičkim studijama, medicinskoj dijagnostici i testiranju identiteta. Najveći dio SNP-ova sastavni je dio nekodirajućeg dijela genoma, pa se smatra da su selektivno neutralni. Ipak,postoji određeni broj SNP-ova smještenih u kodirajućoj regiji genoma (cSNP) i oni mogu utjecati na razvoj različitih multifaktorskihbolesti. Za razliku od autosomnih biljega koji variraju kroz generacije, Y-vezani i mitohondrijski biljezi prolaze kroz generacijske barijere neizmijenjeni (u odsutnosti mutacija), zbog čega se često primjenjuju u populacijskoj, humanoj i forenzičnoj genetici zapraćenje roditeljskih linija. Kromosom Y ima važnu ulogu u slučajevima silovanja te kod utvrđivanja migracije pojedinih naroda.Razvojem molekularnih metoda proteklih godina uloga DNA analize u animalnoj i biljnoj forenzici postala je vrlo značajna. Brojsudskih predmeta u kojima su kao dokazi primjenjivani tragovi životinjskog i biljnog podrijetla značajno je porastao. DNA tehnologija također ima vrlo važnu ulogu u identifi kaciji mikroorganizama koje je moguće upotrijebiti radi bioterorističkog napada. Primjena utvrđivanja identiteta analizom DNA posebno je važna kod otkrivanja žrtava trgovine ljudima, žrtava seksualnog i radnogiskorištavanja te suzbijanja nezakonitih useljavanja i nezakonitih posvojenja. Najnoviji trend u području forenzične genetike je DNAfenotipizacija. Primjenom SNP biljega u procesu genotipizacije pokušavaju se predvidjeti pojedine fenotipske karakteristike, poputboje kože, očiju, kose i sl., radi utvrđivanja identiteta posmrtnih ostataka ili individualizacije osobe koja je ostavila biološki trag
... Le mosche, in genere, sono attratte dai cibi dolci e dai cibi ricchi di proteine, come la carne [6,9]. Le femmine di mosca vergini, tra l'altro, necessitano di pasti proteici al fine di sviluppare i propri ovari [10]. ...
... Following this period, blowfly species (Diptera) and beetles (Coleoptera) are generally the first groups of insects to colonise remains after death (Magni et al., 2015). The females usually lay eggs, and the subsequent life cycle acts as a biological clock (Greenberg & Kunich, 2002). When the development period concerning each stage of the insect life cycle is known, one can estimate the minimum postmortem interval (minPMI) (Aggarwal et al., 2003;Villet & Amendt, 2011). ...
Article
Wildlife forensic science is a growing research field globally with application in criminal cases of illegal hunting requiring an estimate of time of death based on insect fauna. The techniques and procedures of forensic entomology acquired over the last 40 years, used in legal cases relating to human remains, can be adapted to decomposing wildlife. Research on carrion utilising the rate of development of insect immatures provides a biological clock from which a minimum post‐mortem interval (minPMI) can be derived. The following study concerns 19 rhinoceros that were illegally killed and dehorned in the Republic of South Africa between 2014 and 2021. The paper details 74 samples of insect evidence collected from these rhinoceros remains from which an accurate estimate of their PMI was calculated. The specimens comprised 18 species from 12 families belonging to three insect orders. Many Dipteran and Coleopteran species were found on and around each carcass. The species of fly larvae (family Calliphoridae) used in each case to estimate the PMI are as follows: Chrysomya marginalis (Wiedemann) (13 cases), Chrysomya chloropyga (Wiedemann) (2 cases), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (1 case) and Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (1 case). Two species of Coleoptera from the family Dermestidae and Silphidae involved Dermestes maculatus (DeGeer) and Thanatophilus micans (Fabricius), respectively, also were involved in one PMI estimation each. The paper highlights opportunities for improving our global understanding of gaps in procedures and training related to wildlife criminal cases.
... En condiciones normales son las primeras en colonizar y reducir un cuerpo en descomposición. Gracias al conocimiento detallado de su ciclo de vida es posible determinar el tiempo aproximado de colonización del cadáver y así deducir el periodo mínimo de actividad entomológica (PAEmin), anteriormente entendido como intervalo pos-mortem mínimo (IPMmin) (Amendt et al., 2004;Greenberg y Kunich, 2002;Hall, 2001). Las larvas se alimentan activamente del cadáver y de sus eventuales xenobióticos (sustancias químicas que se encuentran al interior de un organismo y que no se producen naturalmente), en este proceso fijan a su tejido trazas que facilitan la detección de fármacos, medicamentos, pesticidas, narcóticos o estupefacientes implicados en un caso forense (Raise y Gemmellaro, 2023). ...
Article
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The article briefly deals with the current and prospective scientific applications of blowflies (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and some artistic, visual, and literary approaches that this group of organisms has inspired. We have proposed them as a pedagogical model organism to understand some biological phenomena among college students. Finally, we record the presence of eight (8) blowfly species inhabiting the Fraternity Campus of the Instituto Tecnologico Metropolitano, Medellin (Colombian Andes, 1600m) providing general aspects of their biology. We want to bring the reader closer to a less stigmatized vision of these insects and to vindicate their use and primordial role in the functioning of ecosystems.
... Determining the minimum developmental threshold and the degree-hour values for several necrophagous species is an important prerequisite for estimating the PMI (Greenberg & Kunich, 2002). Considering that C. lopesi, like C. vicina (e.g., Faucherre et al., 1999;Salanitro et al., 2022;Vélez & Wolff, 2008), has been found more frequently in less warm regions, the minimum threshold we found seems to be close to the conditions in which this fly lives in nature (between À3.3 C and 6 C for most developmental stages, except for the third instar). ...
Article
Several species of the worldwide distributed genus Calliphora Robineau‐Desvoidy (Insecta, Diptera, Calliphoridae) are medically important vectors and agents of myiasis. Furthermore, these flies are relevant in forensics because they are found in corpses. Information regarding the taxonomy, bionomics and distribution of Calliphora species endemic to South America, including Calliphora lopesi Mello, is scarce. To expand knowledge on C. lopesi , this study presents descriptions of eggs, larvae, puparia and developmental data at 14, 17, 20, 23 and 26 ± 1°C for the first time. Adult flies were collected from the field and kept in the laboratory to obtain samples for morphological and biological studies. Immatures were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. To assess the growth rate, 10 specimens from each temperature group were randomly removed from the diet and weighed every 24 h from larval hatching until pupation. The minimum developmental threshold, thermal constant and linear development‐rate equations were calculated for each stage. Considering weight gain records and survival rates, the optimum temperature for the development of C. lopesi ranges from 23 to 26°C. A key to third‐instar larvae of known Neotropical species of Calliphora was also provided to assist in identification. The information provided in this study should be useful in expanding knowledge about Neotropical Calliphoridae species of forensic importance.
... Muscidae includes several species that are extremely important to health and veterinary research due to their capacity to transmit pathogens causing fatal diseases to humans and livestock (Achint and Singh, 2021). Even in the earliest periods of recorded history, there existed a discernible relationship between man and mucid insects (Greenberg and Kunich, 2002). ...
Article
Full-text available
Muscid flies are significant in forensics and medical fields because of their polyphagous habit and capacity to spread fatal pathogens to humans and animals, causing various diseases. Adult muscids and their larvae found on carcasses and cadavers are utilized as forensic indicators to calculate the post-mortem interval (PMI). Taxonomic identification of muscid flies is difficult due to the absence of proper taxonomic expertise for quick identification of both adults and larvae. Hence, entomologists are increasingly concentrating on alternative strategies to expedite identification procedures. A short (∼670 bp) mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene fragment is the optimal marker for accurate molecular identification and phylogenetic analyses. During the present study, the effectiveness of the COI gene was assessed in the molecular identification of 14 species of muscid flies in 5 genera, namely Atherigona, Hydrotaea, Musca, Neomyia, and Synthesiomyia, collected from various biogeographic regions of West Bengal. Thirty-one sequences (∼670 bp) of 14 species were generated and submitted to GenBank. The sequences of the studied species showed 99%-100% similarity with sequences from within and outside the country. COI barcodes were able to distinguish between species, with Kimura-2-Parameter (K2P) intraspecific genetic divergences ranging from 0% to 2% and Kimura-2-Parameter (K2P) interspecific genetic divergences ranging from 5.35% to 18.10%. Phylogenetic analyses involving neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum likelihood (ML), and Bayesian inference (BI) showed well-supported monophyly and proper differentiation among species. It can be concluded that COI barcodes have proven to be a highly successful alternative for identifying forensically and synanthropically significant muscid flies.
... Insect specimens collected from the field were brought to the laboratory and all specimens were included in the collection. Calliphoridae species collected from rabbit carcasses were identified using the identification keys of Greenberg and Kunich (2002), Şabanoğlu (2007) (2015); Sarcophagidae species were identified using Povolný and Verves (1997) and Szpila (2014). Coleoptera specimens were identified using various keys from Smetana and Davies (2000) for Staphylinidae, Hastir and Gaspar (2001) for Silphidae, Hinton (1945) for Dermestidae, and Özdemir (2007) for all Coleoptera. ...
Article
Although the use of insects in solving murders in Turkey is still in its infancy compared to other developed countries, it is seen that insects are used in solving some murders. İstanbul is the largest city in terms of population in Turkey. In parallel with this, İstanbul is one of the cities where the most murders are committed. For this reason, in this study, it was aimed to reveal the forensic entomologically important insect fauna and to determine the insect succession of İstanbul, where the most murder cases are seen. The study was carried out at Marmara University Başıbüyük Campus in Maltepe district on the Asian side of İstanbul, using four rabbit carcasses representing each season. At the end of the study, 33 species belonging to four insect orders were identified. Of these, 11 belonged to Diptera, 20 to Coleoptera, one to Hymenoptera and one to Hemiptera. In this study, insect succession was also examined and the succession of insect species coming to the carcass was revealed. This study is the first detailed study conducted in İstanbul province in terms of the detection of insect species which are important for forensic entomology.
... The relationship between man and Muscidae, such as Musca domestica and M. sorbens, dates back to the dawn of recorded history (Greenberg & Kunich 2002;Schmidt 2006). Muscid flies are recognized for their agricultural, medicinal, and veterinary relevance due to their widespread distribution and close relationship with human settlements (many are synanthropic species) (Byrd & Castner 2010). ...
... [3] . The eggs of blowfly have been studied in many parts of the world [8,12,9,10] . Blowflies feeds on decaying organic matter and may show how much time has passed between the discovery of the corpse and time of death [14] . ...
... Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) is a Calliphoridae species with a growing importance in medical and forensic entomology due to its necrophagous properties [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. The species is known to cause pre-mortem myiasis and is a vector for bacterial based diseases [8,9]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Protophormia terraenovae is a colonizer of decomposing bodies and is known to cause pre-mortem myiasis as the female flies lay eggs in uncleaned wounds. In this study the effects of different concentrations of antibiotics levofloxacin and ceftriaxone on maggot development, weight, length, and mortality were examined. The maggot length and weight were significantly increased by therapeutical doses of levofloxacin and ceftriaxone. The maggot development time was significantly decreased in every levofloxacin treatment compared to the control. The time to start pupation was significantly increased in the control compared to the antibiotic treatments. Levofloxacin significantly increased the survivability of the maggots. Every levofloxacin treatment significantly improved the rearing conditions for the maggots. Reaching the third instar was delayed by 24 h in the control compared to the Levo 3.57 treatment. The Pupation in the control was delayed by an average of 48 h compared to the Levo 3.57 treatment. The significantly reduced development time of the maggots in the antibiotic treatments might lead to an overestimation of the post-mortem interval and therefore an incorrect time of death determination. The improved rearing conditions may be an indication of the potential of a combined application of antibiotics and maggot therapy.
... This is because its species are common, widely distributed, abundant, and are generally the first colonizers of a dead body. In many cases, they have the ability to detect a corpse from great distances [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Although Calliphoridae are ubiquitous, the abundance and colonization times of specific species may vary depending on the environmental conditions where a corpse is found. ...
Article
A carcass is defined as a temporary resource that can support high levels of diversity compared to other resources. The level of diversity often depends on the environmental conditions in which the corpse is found. Calliphoridae (Diptera) are the most important necrophagous insects used in forensic investigations because this family is common, widespread, abundant, and usually the first to colonize a corpse. However, understanding the processes responsible for variation in calliphorid species abundance and richness along gradients in ecology remains a key challenge. In this study, we analyzed the influence of altitude on the abundance and diversity of Calliphoridae species in corpses at three different altitudes (400, 900, and 1500 m a.s.l.) in a mountainous area of southeastern Spain. The results revealed a gradient of decreasing abundance with increasing altitude. An altitudinal substitution of species was observed, with Chrysomya albiceps being found at the lowest altitude and Calliphora vicina at the highest altitude. Seasonal variation was also noted, with Ch . albiceps being the dominant species in the warmer months and C . vicina being the dominant species in winter. Our results confirm the importance of Calliphorids as seasonal, altitudinal, and environmental indicators, given the wide distribution and abundance of this family. This information is of great interest on the interpretation of data in forensic practice.
... This includes deliberate criminal acts, such as homicide. This area of investigation is most often associated with the term "forensic entomology" (Greenberg and Kunich, 2002). The main application of entomological evidence in this subspecialty is the estimation of the time since death or postmortem interval (PMI) (Wallman and Archer, 2020). ...
... In our opinion, bees and wasp (Hymenoptera), who are not necessarily necrophagous, some are also predatory and eat the insects feeding on the body during the early stages. [1].This may cause problems for murder cases in which larval flies are used to estimate the post mortem interval since eggs and larvae on the body may have been consumed prior to the arrival on scene of investigators [4,7]. ...
Article
Full-text available
In December 2005 the corpse of a minor of 8 years old was discovered in a cardboard box introduced in an garbage container. The investigations have betray that some groups of insects were found on the corpse.The request of justice was to determine by a entomological expertise details regarding the insect group evolution in this specific environment, to establish some correlations between life-cycle of insects and the rest of data managed, for a good judgement of the case. Our entomological expertise in this manslaughter case has proved that there was involved insects from Calliphoridae familly (Diptera:Oestroidea), regarding posterior stigmae to L-III and and papillae position. Insects, are the major group of arthropodes and the most diverse group of animals on the Earth, with over a million described species, more than all other animal groups combined. There are many types of insects that can be involved in forensic entomology, but the ones listed here are mostly necrophagous and related to medicolegal entomology (directly related to the crime and found on the corpse). This is not a full list; there are many variations due to climate, and many other insects that are necrophagous; this is outlined by different authors; the order in which the insects feed on the corpse is called the faunal succession. Medicolegal forensic entomology includes arthropod involvement in events such as murder, suicide and rape, but also includes physical abuse and contraband trafficking. In murder investigations it deals with what insects lay eggs when and where, and in what order they appear in dead bodies. This can be helpful in determining the time or post mortem interval (PMI) and location of the death in question. Forensic entomology deals with the examination of insects in, on, and around human remains to assist in determination of time or location of death. It is also possible to determine if the body was moved after death. Bow-flies, involved in this study, are member of the family Calliphoridae of flies [Gr. kallos beauty + phoros bearing]. Calliphoridae is a family of medium-sized to large flies of the order Diptera, including the genera Auchmeromyia, Booponus, Calliphora (type genus), Cordylobia, Cochliomyi, Chrysomia, Lucilia, Phaenicia and Phormia; all species may serve as vectors of pathogens and may also produce myiasis in humans; several are causes of cutaneous myiasis in domestic animals. Bow-flies of this family are often metallic in appearence. Material and methods The investigators of this case have expediate for analysis, a sample with fragments of insects, to compare the anatomy of different fragments of the insect body and to establish which family of insects were found on the corpse. The environmental conditions at the time of prelevations was: between 18.10-19.11.05 = 6.2 0 Celsius in air, and the relative humidity in air + 77; between 20.11.05-29.12.05 = 3,4 0 Celsius and the relative humidity +79.
... Furthermore, as other arthropods feed on these larvae, these toxic compounds are transferred up the food chain [14][15][16][17]. Insects, particularly larvae, serve as ideal toxicological specimens due to their abundance on the cadaver, and their puparial cases remain relatively unaffected and stable over extended periods [12,13]. This branch of study, which focuses on the utility of insects as alternative toxicological specimens, is known as entomotoxicology. ...
Article
The utilization of Forensic Entomo-toxicology in cases involving poisoning-related deaths has gained prominence due to insects serving as an alternative source of evidence when conventional toxicological samples have deteriorated or become unavailable. Numerous research studies have successfully demonstrated the detection, identification, and quantification of drugs and toxic substances from insect specimens. This comprehensive review explores the role of insects as viable toxicological samples, outlines their collection and preservation methods, delves into the analysis employing various instrumental techniques, and examines emerging trends in analytical approaches. Additionally, the review sheds light on the limitations that impede the advancement of this field and offers insights into potential directions for future research. Furthermore, it explores the impact of poisons on insects used for estimating the postmortem interval.
... Lucilia (Phaenicia) sericata (Meigen, 1826) is a widespread blow fly species, which due to its necrophagous properties is often used to determine the post-mortem interval (Amendt et al., 2004;Grassberger & Reiter, 2001;Greenberg & Kunich, 2002;Lutz et al., 2021). Additionally it is known that the female flies are attracted to the odour of faeces or urine contamination why they lay their eggs in the affected places. ...
Article
Lucilia sericata is one of the most studied species in forensic entomology due to its widespread distribution, forensic importance as well as medical use. The growth and development stage of maggots is often used to determine the post-mortem interval in forensic cases. L. sericata can cause myiasis in humans who are not able to maintain personal hygiene due to age or medical condition and can therefore be used to determine the time period of neglect. The influence of the temperature on the maggot development has been examined in various studies. Different examinations on the effects of toxic substances on the maggot development and survival have been conducted in order to test the influence and resulting deviations. In this study, the effects of different therapeutical doses of the antibiotics ceftriaxone and levofloxacin were examined on L. sericata in order to determine and compare deviations in maggot development and survival. The used antibiotics did not significantly influence the maggot weight and length. A significant delay in the time of pupation has been determined in the treatments with high concentrations of levofloxacin. The mortality was significantly increased in all treatments with antibiotics compared to the control, whereby the survivability of all treatments remained over 80%. Because of the high doses needed to produce an effect, we concluded that an overestimation of the post-mortem interval is unlikely but higher antibiotic concentrations or possible interactions with other medications could increase the maggot development time.
... In conclusion, this study provides data on the developmental time of C. megacephala and contributes with length curves and ADH tables that can be used to estimate the insect age and can be applied for PMI estimation in criminal investigations. Considering that temperature exposure conditions could affect insect development, we suggest estimating the insect age by using the accumulated degree days/ADH methods, especially when hourly data are obtained, because the accumulated heat required to complete development remains unchanged [78]. Additionally, this is the first work that generates information regarding the development rate of C. megacephala populations from Mexico. ...
Article
Full-text available
Forensic entomology requires knowledge of the developmental rates of the species that colonize a body after death to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI). These developmental rates may vary depending not only on the species but also on the geographic location due to population differences. Therefore, the objectives of this work were to determine the developmental duration of the forensically important fly Chrysomya megacephala under constant controlled and field condition temperatures and to compare these results, through a meta-analysis, with data reported by other authors on populations from different localities. For this, C. megacephala colonies were established in the laboratory, and the duration of the life cycle was studied at two controlled temperatures (25 °C and 27 °C) and field conditions (27.5 ± 3.2 °C). Analysis of variance was performed to determine differences in developmental time and larval length between constant laboratory temperatures and field conditions. A generalized linear model was performed with predictor variables extracted from the literature (diet, relative humidity, latitude, longitude) to evaluate the effect of population variation on developmental times. The results showed significant differences in developmental times between 25 and 27 °C. As expected, the complete life cycle of C. megacephala was shorter at 27 °C. Finally, the meta-analysis suggested differences between the developmental times of different populations, based on temperature and geographic location. The results of this study provide fundamental developmental data to use C. megacephala in PMI estimations. Finally, we suggest that, when making expert reports, information from local populations should be used to determine a more accurate and reliable PMI.
... This summation of a specific amount of heat for development is given in accumulated degree hours or days (ADH or ADD). According to Greenberg and Kunich [18], the relation between rate of development and environmental temperature should be linear within a certain range. Thus, the amount of temperature necessary The development stage was estimated using a CVcold and b CVwarm as reference data in the age prediction tool for complete development is constant for each insect species. ...
Article
Full-text available
Insects, especially blow flies, are forensically relevant to determine the minimal postmortem interval (PMI min ), based on the fact that they are usually the first colonisers of a body. By estimating the age of immature blow flies, interferences can be made about the time since death. Whilst morphological parameters are valuable for age estimation of blow fly larvae, gene expression profiling is more applicable for blow fly pupae. Here, the age-dependent changes in the gene expression levels during the development are analysed. 28 temperature-independent markers have already been described for the age estimation of pupae of the forensically important blow fly Calliphora vicina and are analysed by RT-qPCR. To allow simultaneous analysis of these age markers, a multiplex assay was developed in the present study. After reverse transcription, the markers are analysed simultaneously in an endpoint PCR and subsequently separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE). This method is highly attractive due to its quick and easy procedure and interpretation. The present age prediction tool was adapted and validated. The multiplex PCR assay reproduced the same expression profiles as the RT-qPCR assay based on the same markers. The statistical evaluation shows that the new assay has a lower precision but a better trueness for age determination compared to the RT-qPCR assay. Since the new assay is also qualified to estimate the age of C. vicina pupae and is practical, cost-effective and, even more importantly, time-saving, it is attractive for use in forensic casework.
... Large (e.g., ∼10 000 larvae) larval population size can increase substrate temperatures (i.e., maggot heat) above air temperatures (Greenberg & Kunich, 2002). In this study, larvae of large population sizes at 20°C aggregated consequently generated temperatures over 40°C and created a temperature gradient of ∼20°C in the substrate (Fig. 8). ...
Article
Mass production of black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), larvae results in massive heat generation, which impacts facility management, waste conversion, and larval production. We tested daily substrate temperatures with different population densities (i.e., 0, 500, 1000, 5000, and 10 000 larvae/pan), different population sizes (i.e., 166, 1000, and 10 000 larvae at a fixed feed ratio) and air temperatures (i.e., 20 and 30 °C) on various production parameters. Impacts of shifting larvae from 30 to 20 °C on either day 9 or 11 were also determined. Larval activity increased substrate temperatures significantly (i.e., at least 10 °C above air temperatures). Low air temperature favored growth with the higher population sizes while high temperature favored growth with low population sizes. The greatest average individual larval weights (e.g., 0.126 and 0.124 g) and feed conversion ratios (e.g., 1.92 and 2.08 g/g) were recorded for either 10 000 larvae reared at 20 °C or 100 larvae reared at 30 °C. Shifting temperatures from high (30 °C) to low (20 °C) in between (∼10-d-old larvae) impacted larval production weights (16% increases) and feed conversion ratios (increased 14%). Facilities should consider the impact of larval density, population size, and air temperature during black soldier fly mass production as these factors impact overall larval production.
... Corresponde ao período de tempo entre a ocorrência da morte e o momento em que o corpo é encontrado. Em casos de morte suspeita, a estimativa do intervalo pós-morte tem importância na reconstrução de eventos e de circunstâncias da morte, na conexão do suspeito à cena do crime ou à vítima e no estabelecimento da veracidade das informações fornecidas por testemunhas (GREENBERG, 2002). ...
Article
Full-text available
A segurança pública é discutida nas esferas da sociedade, sendo necessário o entendimento da sua evolução a partir do uso das tecnologias disponíveis à otimização da investigação policial. As ferramentas de geoinformação ajudam a entender os fenômenos que contribuem à violência e demarcam os pontos de homicídios. Também é importante na melhoria da gestão em segurança a utilização de evidências biológicas em locais de crime com casos de cadáveres desovados, como a Entomologia Forense, que estuda o uso dos insetos em procedimentos legais. O objetivo é assegurar a importância do georreferenciamento da criminalidade nas cidades e o uso dos insetos forenses na elucidação de mortes violentas. Realizou-se revisão bibliográfica do tema, na qual o georreferenciamento auxilia na gestão da segurança pública, demarcando os pontos de maior incidência de homicídios e mesmo a entomologia forense sendo uma ciência antiga, há pouca interação entre academia e polícia técnico-científica. Conclui-se que o georreferenciamento e a entomologia forense são fortes aliados da segurança pública, um localiza pontos estratégicos de violência e a outra utiliza insetos necrófagos na identificação de cadáveres.Palavras-chave: Georreferenciamento. Insetos. Criminalidade. Homicídios. Cadáveres desovados.
... Abd El-Bar and Sawaby [28] state that the pungent odor of organophosphates does not necessarily reduce the attraction of adult insects to carcasses. However, our results demonstrated that the colonization was low in the dry phase of carcasses treated with diazinon, which may have influenced the longevity of this phase [42], in other words, probably due to the low density of larvae in the carcass, it took more days to decompose. ...
Article
Full-text available
Fatal poisonings with diazinon may occur both accidentally or intentionally in suicide cases. Forensic entomotoxicology can aid in understanding these deaths by detecting and analyzing the interference of toxic substances in the biology of necrophagous insects. Hence, this study sought to evaluate diazinon’s effect on the composition and succession of calliphorid species in the tropical savannas of the Amazon. Nine rabbit carcasses were divided into three groups: one control and two diazinon treatments (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg); each group had three replicates. Three fragments of the Amazon tropical savanna were selected for the experiments. Daily collections of adult and immature calliphorids were performed. Five decomposition stages were observed: fresh, bloated, active decay co-occurring, advanced decay, and dry. Eight species of Calliphoridae were identified among the collected adults: Chloroprocta idioidea (0.1%), Chrysomya albiceps (58.3%), Chrysomya megacephala (14.2%), Chrysomya putoria (2.6%), Cochliomyia hominivorax (1.3%), Cochliomyia macellaria (0.5%), Lucilia eximia (19.8%), and Paralucilia paraensis (3.3%). The adult specimens in the control group with the highest abundance were observed only from the advanced decay stage onward. In the dry stage, abundance was higher in control than in treated carcasses. From the sampled 941 Calliphorid immatures, three species were identified: C. albiceps (76,3%), C. putoria (1%), and L. eximia (22,7). The number of immatures was higher in control than in treated carcasses. Therefore, diazinon interferes with the putrefaction timeframe in carcasses, slowing the decomposition stages and affecting their colonization by immature forms of Calliphoridae.
... (Fig. 8). The larva feeds on the corpse and grows from about 2 mm in length to more than 15 mm, shedding its cuticle (a process called molting) twice (Greenberg and Kunich, 2002). The life stage between molts is called an instar, and the visible progression of life stages during development is egg -4 first larval instar -4 second larval instar -4 third larval instar -4 pupa -4 adult. ...
Chapter
Forensic entomologists (FE) contribute to a death investigation, usually by helping to estimate the time of death, or postmortem interval (PMI). To do this the FE makes use of two insect-based postmortem clocks. The first is the development of an insect thought to have fed on the corpse all of its life. A development analysis may yield an estimate of minimum PMI (PMImin), or “Dead for not less than a given amount of time.” The second is the succession of insect species that takes place over time following death. A succession analysis may yield the actual PMI. Accurate FE analysis depends on correctly identifying the insect, reconstructing the corpse environment prior to evidence collection, and the availability of suitable reference data. Among the most important factors influencing insect development and succession rate is temperature and intrinsic differences between the insect species. Hundreds of insect species may be observed on a human corpse, but most FE analyses use a small number of fly and beetle species. Most commonly used are the blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) the larvae of which, called maggots, feed on carrion.
... (Fig. 8). The larva feeds on the corpse and grows from about 2 mm in length to more than 15 mm, shedding its cuticle (a process called molting) twice (Greenberg and Kunich, 2002). The life stage between molts is called an instar, and the visible progression of life stages during development is egg -4 first larval instar -4 second larval instar -4 third larval instar -4 pupa -4 adult. ...
Chapter
A Forensic Entomologist (FE) can contribute to a death investigation, usually by helping to estimate the time of death, or postmortem interval (PMI). To do this the FE makes use of two insect-based postmortem clocks. The first is the development of an insect thought to have fed on the corpse all of its life. A development analysis may yield an estimate of minimum PMI (PMImin), or “Dead for not less than a given amount of time.” The second is the succession of insect’s species that takes place over time following death. A succession analysis may yield the actual PMI. Accurate FE analysis depends on correctly identifying the insect(s), reconstructing the corpse environment prior to evidence collection, and the availability of suitable reference data. Among the most important factors influencing insect development and succession rate is temperature and the intrinsic differences between the insect species. Hundreds of insect’s species may be observed on a human corpse, but most FE analyses use a small number of fly and beetle species. Most commonly used are the blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) the larvae of which, called maggots, feed on carrion.
... They focus on the criminal component of the legal system and dealing with the necrophagous, feeding insects. Insects can be of significant importance in cases of badly decomposed and unidentified remains and with an undetermined time of death (Greenberg and Kunich, 2002). ...
Article
Forensic Entomology is the branch of forensic science in which information about insects is used to draw conclusions when investigating legal cases related to both human and animals. It is the broad field where arthropod science and judicial system interact. It deals mainly with the postmortem interval or changes. In this paper three cases of human corpses attacked by Dipteran insects are reported. The first case describes the putrefied corpse of a newborn. The other two cases concern two men in their forties. One of them was apparently drunk when he died. Insects recorded are Sarcophaga tibialis and Chrysomya marginalis.
... After careful examination under a stereomicroscope (Olympus SZ51, Japan) in the laboratory, a red-coloured mite was found attached on the scutellum of one of the blowflies ( Figure 1). The blowfly specimen was then examined and identified using Greenberg & Kunich (2002). The mite was then gently removed from the body of the blowfly by using a fine brush and was cleared in lactophenol (60% lactic acid, 40% phenol) for seven days prior to mounting (Nadchatram & Dohany, 1974). ...
Article
This is the first documentation of parasitic mite, Leptus sp., found on a necrophagous blowfly, Chrysomya villeneuvi collected from a decomposing wild boar carcass placed in Taman Negara (National Park), Kuala Keniam, Pahang, Malaysia. Blowflies around the carcass were captured using an insect net before being examined under a stereomicroscope. Upon microscopic observation, we found a mite attached on the scutellum of C. villeneuvi adult. The mite was carefully removed and preserved in 70% ethanol subsequently. Then, the mite was cleared in lactophenol before being mounted in Hoyer's medium. The morphological identification of the mite was conducted and Leptus sp. was identified. The species belongs to the phalangii species group and the aldonae species subgroup. This study highlights the new association of Leptus sp. and C. villeneuvi for the first time.
... After careful examination under a stereomicroscope (Olympus SZ51, Japan) in the laboratory, a red-coloured mite was found attached on the scutellum of one of the blowflies ( Figure 1). The blowfly specimen was then examined and identified using Greenberg & Kunich (2002). The mite was then gently removed from the body of the blowfly by using a fine brush and was cleared in lactophenol (60% lactic acid, 40% phenol) for seven days prior to mounting (Nadchatram & Dohany, 1974). ...
Article
This is the first documentation of parasitic mite, Leptus sp., found on a necrophagous blowfly, Chrysomya villeneuvi collected from a decomposing wild boar carcass placed in Taman Negara (National Park), Kuala Keniam, Pahang, Malaysia. Blowflies around the carcass were captured using an insect net before being examined under a stereomicroscope. Upon microscopic observation, we found a mite attached on the scutellum of C. villeneuvi adult. The mite was carefully removed and preserved in 70% ethanol subsequently. Then, the mite was cleared in lactophenol before being mounted in Hoyer's medium. The morphological identification of the mite was conducted and Leptus sp. was identified. The species belongs to the phalangii species group and the aldonae species subgroup. This study highlights the new association of Leptus sp. and C. villeneuvi for the first time.
... After careful examination under a stereomicroscope (Olympus SZ51, Japan) in the laboratory, a red-coloured mite was found attached on the scutellum of one of the blowflies ( Figure 1). The blowfly specimen was then examined and identified using Greenberg & Kunich (2002). The mite was then gently removed from the body of the blowfly by using a fine brush and was cleared in lactophenol (60% lactic acid, 40% phenol) for seven days prior to mounting (Nadchatram & Dohany, 1974). ...
Article
This is the first documentation of parasitic mite, Leptus sp., found on a necrophagous blowfly, Chrysomya villeneuvi collected from a decomposing wild boar carcass placed in Taman Negara (National Park), Kuala Keniam, Pahang, Malaysia. Blowflies around the carcass were captured using an insect net before being examined under a stereomicroscope. Upon microscopic observation, we found a mite attached on the scutellum of C. villeneuvi adult. The mite was carefully removed and preserved in 70% ethanol subsequently. Then, the mite was cleared in lactophenol before being mounted in Hoyer's medium. The morphological identification of the mite was conducted and Leptus sp. was identified. The species belongs to the phalangii species group and the aldonae species subgroup. This study highlights the new association of Leptus sp. and C. villeneuvi for the first time.
Chapter
This chapter introduces topics of medical entomology and vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in 12 Asian countries. In particular, malaria, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis, which are mosquito-borne diseases, and a sense of urgency about the spread of serious damage is common among Asian countries. Several countries also announced information from scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease) from Bhutan, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Nepal, and Taiwan, SFTS from China, Taiwan, and Japan, and leishmaniasis from Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, and Thailand. There are also concerns about increased Zika virus infection in Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam). Flea-borne diseases (plague) are also important VBDs in Taiwan and Vietnam. From Japan, the occurrence of redback spider bites and outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are introduced. Indonesia introduced the situation of livestock losses due to VBDs, and Thailand introduced the problem of insecticide resistance. In Turkey, located in West Asia, Hyalomma ticks that do not inhabit East and Southeast Asia are distributed, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), which is caused by the bite of this tick, has been introduced as an important VBD. The development of forensic entomology in Malaysia, and the use of various biological control methods in Vietnam are also well described. It should be noted that the spread of VBD and other pests is not limited to the countries listed here, but may already be a problem throughout Asia. This information is valuable in understanding the current status of VBDs in Asia and will be expected to contribute to future efforts to address VBDs.
Preprint
Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart), commonly known as the hairy maggot blow fly, is important in forensic and medical contexts because it colonizes carcasses and is a causative agent of myiasis in animals and humans. Studying the development of its pupae is crucial for understanding the time since death in forensic investigations and for containing the spread of myiasis. This study investigated how temperature, soil type, and moisture affects the development of Ch. rufifacies pupae in Western Australia. The present study investigates the developmental process of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) pupae and their dependency on soil composition, moisture levels, and temperature changes. This research holds implications for forensic and veterinary applications, providing crucial insights for estimating minimum postmortem intervals and managing myiasis-causing flies in diverse environments. Specifically, the study explores the impact of five moisture content levels in loam and sandy soils (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) on the pupal development of Ch. rufifacies under two distinct constant temperature regimes (24 ± 1 °C and 30 ± 1 °C). A significant correlation was observed between soil type and temperature regarding the time required to complete the pupal stages; however, moisture had on a significant impact. Larvae exhibited varying survival rates across the two temperatures and five moisture levels in the two types of soils, particularly under extreme lower moisture conditions (0%) at 30 ± 1 °C, failing to progress to the pupariation stage. Additionally, growth parameters such as pupal length and width of the fully formed puparia were significantly impacted by temperature, soil type, and moisture level. Adult head width was systematically measured across different moisture levels and soil types, revealing distinct temperature dependent responses. Furthermore, a sex-specific analysis highlighted that female Ch. rufifacies consistently displayed larger head widths and higher emergence rates compared to their male counter parts. This research enhances our understanding of the intricate interrelationship among three environmental variables: soil type, moisture level, and temperature, elucidating their collective impact on the pupation processes of dipterans.
Chapter
Insects are a major contributor to human lives, both with their beneficial and harmful role. The last two decades have witnessed their increasing use in tracing absconding murderers for human and wild life. Forensic entomology has developed in the recent years as a fascinating branch of entomology. Forensically important invertebrates include Diptera, Coleoptera, and others. We discuss in this chapter insect succession and forensic entomology, developmental analysis of carrion insects and utility in forensic entomology, estimation of PMI, forensic entomotoxicological analysis, techniques used in study of forensic entomology, ultramorphological analysis of forensically important insects by scanning electron microscope and molecular identification techniques and maggot analysis, emerging technique and insects, and legal perspective.
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Forensic entomology, an emerging subdiscipline of forensic sciences, deals with critical analysis of carrion associated fauna to ascertain the PMI and related issues of medicolegal relevance. Though forensic entomological research has gradually gained pace in the past decade in India, yet, it’s still to make a mark in a nation as vast and diverse like India, with different geographical territories and with variable climatic conditions and seasonal fluctuations. In this chapter we highlight forensic entomological research with focus of study from India, emphasizing on the three predominant families of Necrophagous Diptera, namely, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, and Muscidae.
Article
In the field of forensic entomology, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart 1843) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) has proven to be an important species for postmortem interval (PMI) assessment in criminal investigations. The developmental patterns of C. rufifacies exhibit temperature-dependent variations that are geographically specific, and these variations are influenced by seasonal changes. Hence, understanding the geographically specific development patterns of C. rufifacies in response to temperature and seasonal changes is crucial for improving the accuracy of PMI predictions. In the present study, we examined the developmental rates of C. rufifacies across a temperature gradient (20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C). Primary objective of present study was to gather precise developmental data essential for calculating the post-mortem interval (PMI) within varying temperature ranges. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of seasonal variations, encompassing the summer, rainy and winter seasons, on the growth and developmental patterns of C. rufifacies. The results of present studies show that temperature significantly affects the growth and development of C. rufifacies. The length of developmental stages and morphological parameters varied seasonally, with longer duration and colder temperatures in winter and shorter duration and warmer temperatures in summer. The finding that faster development was directly correlated with higher temperatures highlighted the significance of temperature in affecting an insect’s life cycle. Our research highlights the necessity of gathering information on evolution trends that are specific to a given area in order to accurately calculate PMI in forensic entomological investigations. Understanding the interactions between temperature, seasonal variation, and morphological traits is critical for establishing baseline data for PMI estimates. The accuracy of PMI estimates will ultimately increase thanks to this information, and forensic entomologists will have even more opportunities to contribute to forensic investigations.
Article
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A review of Mesopotamian textual corpora and iconographic material from prehistory to the end of cuneiform era reveals an abundant presence of insects in many aspects of Mesopotamian daily life, from food and medicine to literature and mathematics, as well as in mythology, divination, omens and rituals. Entomological information contained in cuneiform tablets, including knowledge of metamorphosis, is investigated and insect symbolism in ancient Mesopotamia is discussed.
Article
Blow flies are of medical, sanitary, veterinary, and forensic importance. Their accurate taxonomic identification is essential for their use in applied research. However, neotropical fauna has not been completely studied or described, and taxa identification without the required training is a difficult task. Additionally, the current morphological keys are not fitting to all extant taxa. Molecular-based approaches are widely used to overcome these issues, including the standard 5' COI barcode fragment (~650 base pairs [bp]) for identification at the species level. Here, a shorter sequence of 5' COI fragment (~342 bp) was assessed for the identification of 28 blow fly species inhabiting the northwest of South America. One tree-based (the generalized mixed Yule-coalescent-GMYC) and 3 distance-based approaches (automatic barcode gap discover - ABGD, the best close match - BCM, and the nearest neighbor - NN) analyses were performed. Noticeably, the amplification and sequencing of samples that had been preserved for up to 57 years were successful. The tree topology assigned 113 sequences to a specific taxon (70% effectiveness), while the distance approach assigned to 95 (59% effectiveness). The short fragment allowed the molecular identification of 19 species (60% of neotropical species except for the Lucilia species and Hemilucilia semidiaphana). According to these findings, the taxonomic and faunistic considerations of the blow fly fauna were provided. Overall, the short fragment approach constitutes an optimal species confirmation tool for the most common blow flies in northwestern South America.
Article
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Adults of the Calliphoridae family are attracted to the odor generated by the wounds of all types of vertebrates, but they can also be found in flowers and foliage. Eggs are laid in substrates such as feces, carrion, necrotic tissue or healthy open-wounded tissue from which there the larvae develop. Adults primarily feed on exudates from previous substrates. The objective of this work is to investigate the biology, ecology, habitat, geographic distribution, taxonomy, life cycle, phenology, biological control, and work done on the Calliphoridae family (Insecta: Calliphoridae). A literature search involving articles published between 1950 and 2022 was conducted in order to carry out research related to quantitative, taxonomic, and conceptual aspects. A mini-review was prepared in Goiânia, Goiás, between September and October 2021, by means of the Biological Abstracts, Periodicals CAPE S and Scielo.
Presentation
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Article
The Pipunculidae Family are obligate endoparasitoids of Homoptera, notably Cicadellidae, Cercopidae, Delphacidae, Membracidae, Issidae, Cixiidae and Flatidae. They mainly attack their nymphs in different stages of development. It has been also recorded the development of some species of Neph rocerus Ikon, 1873 in Tipulids (Diptera: Tipulidae). Female flies usually look for suitable prey and introduce eggs into the host's hemocoel via a penetrating ovipositor. A host attacked by pipunculides is usually in the late nymphal stages; flies of the genus Verralia affect only the imaginal stage of the host (Cercopidae, whose nymphs live in foam masses and are therefore protected from pipunculids). The aim of this study is to report the characteristics of the family Pipunculidae endoparasitoids of cicada (Order Homoptera (Insecta: Homoptera). For this, a bibliographic survey of Scoliidae was carried out in the years 1919 to 2021. Only complete articles published in scientific journals and expanded abstracts presented in national and international scientific events were considered.
Article
We present the first study on the use of sound recordings to assess the activity of carrion flies as an alternative to labour intensive physical capture and identification with limited time resolution. Daily recordings were made of the fly activity on human cadavers in a simulated disaster scenario at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER). The recordings were manually analysed for flight sounds and compared to the local environmental data. The results showed that the number of flight sounds was significantly affected by the temperature, daylight, and moderate to high rainfall but not by humidity. Reference recordings were also made of Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), House flies (Diptera: Muscidae) and the Black Soldier flies (Stratiomyidae: Hermetia illucens) in a commercial fly farm and used to build a statistical classification model to test the feasibility of audio recognition for successional studies. Successional arrival and departure patterns were not observed for the recorded flies, although this could be the result of ineffective audio classification algorithm. Further in-depth studies are currently being done on different species and variations within the same species.
Article
In forensic entomology, the presence of insects aids investigations by helping to understand the time since death. Insects are the first organisms that colonize and decompose the carrion. The main application of insect evidence is determining minimum post mortem interval (PMImin) either by analyzing insect developmental patterns or by estimating insect succession on the corpse. Age determination of insects has a pivotal role in the estimation of PMI. A range of techniques is available for estimating age, which provides accurate PMI in investigations. The present review critically discusses the applications of entomological evidence in PMI estimation and enlightens the factors influencing PMI calculations. Age estimation of insects is the primary task in PMI estimation. This review concentrates on methods used in age estimation, their strengths and weaknesses. Entomotoxicology analysis is a valuable tool in solving poisoning cases when dead bodies are recovered after a long period and this review also analyses the scope of entomotoxicology in the area of death investigations.
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