Durations of immature stage development period of Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) under laboratory conditions: implications for forensic entomology

Abstract

Some microhymenopterans are parasitoids of flies of forensic importance. Their parasitic habit can alter the duration of post-embryonic development of these flies, altering the postmortem interval. In order to analyze possible alterations occurring during the immature development period of Nasonia vitripennis, this study tested different quantitative associations between female parasitoids and pupae of Chrysomya megacephala, which were defined by:

Exposure of a single host (Chrysomya megacephala) (Calliphoridae) to different quantities of female parasitoids (Nasonia vitripennis) (Pteromalidae)

“…The elevated incidence of this species in urban environments, in addition to their disease disseminating capacity classifies them as a pest and public health risk (Guimarães et al 1979). Therefore, studies about biological aspects involving parasitoid / host associations have been conducted, aiming a future application in biological control of cycloraphan muscoids (Cardoso & Milward-deAzevedo 1995;Cardoso & Milward-de-Azevedo 1996;Mello & Aguiar-Coelho 2009). The parasitoid of cycloraphan muscoids, Nasonia Exposure of a single host (Chrysomya megacephala) (Calliphoridae) to different quantities of female parasitoids vitripennis (Walker, 1836) is a gregarious ectoparasite of calliphorid, sarcophagid and muscid pupae (Whiting 1967).…”

Cool-weather activity of the forensically important hairy maggot blow fly Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on carrion in Upstate South Carolina, United States

“…Uncertainty in the taxonomic status of Nasonia is possible; the cosmopolitan N. vitripennis potentially represents a complex of cryptic species (JB Woolley, personal communication). Mello and Aguiar [20] provide an alternate explanation for the inaccurate development of N. vitripennis, in which development time of N. vitripennis is inversely related to host density; progeny take significantly longer to develop when females encounter an increased density of hosts. The density of blow fly puparia might be high in nature due to fact that blow fly larvae often disperse from the food source en masse to pupate.…”

Study on the pupal morphogenesis of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) for postmortem interval estimation

“…The population growth and density of necrophagous flies may be interfered with, thereby influencing estimates of min PMI [44]. The pupae of C. rufifacies are no exception.…”

“…Many parasitic insects can alter the duration of the postembryonic developmental period or interrupt the development of their hosts [42][43][44][45]. The population growth and density of necrophagous flies may be interfered with, thereby influencing estimates of min PMI [44].…”