Forensically Important Calliphoridae (Diptera) Associated with Pig Carrion in Rural North-Central Florida

Abstract

A study to determine the relative abundance and seasonality of forensically important blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in rural north-central Florida was conducted using pig carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) as models for human bodies. Seven species of Calliphoridae were collected: Lucilia coeruleiviridis (=Phaenicia) (Macquart), Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), Chrysomya rufifaces (Macquart), Phormia regina (Meigen), Chrysomya megacephala (F.), and a few specimens of Calliphora livida Hall, and Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy. Species composition in aerial collections of adult flies, preserved larval collections, and samples of larvae reared to the adult stage were all highly correlated. Relative abundance of the species found was significantly different, with L. coeruleiviridis the most abundant species year-round. The relative abundance of the collected species varied significantly by day of decomposition and by season, with significant interactions between season and day, season and species, and day and species. L. coeruleiviridis, C. macellaria, C. rufifaces, and P. regina were found during the entire year, two C. vicina specimens and 11 C. livida specimens were collected from December to March, whereas C. megacephala was collected only from June through September.

Arthropods of Forensic Importance on Pig Carrion in the Coahuilan Semidesert, Mexico

“…Lucilia sericata has been mentioned as a dominant species on carrion in various regions of the world (17,18,22–28), although other imported Calliphoridae genera, such as Chrysomya , have been reported as a very important and competitive component of sarcosaprophagous community in several countries of the American continent since its introduction (29–32).…”

Insect succession and carrion decomposition in selected forests of Central Europe. Part 3: Succession of carrion fauna

“…Few models gave some information (usually very limited) about repeatability of occurrence on carrion in a given set of circumstances [13,23]. Some models also reported changes in abundance of taxa during their presence on carrion [13,[19][20][21][22][24][25][26]28,30,31] and many contained some information about decomposition, usually about decompositional stages [in example : 12,32-40]. All these data are worth considering…”

Uso dos diptera na análise entomotoxicológica e na estimativa do intervalo pós-morte (IPM)

“…Aproximadamente existem cinquenta espécies dessas moscas identificadas como potenciais indicadoras do IPM (GRUNER et al, 2007). A estimativa por tais meios depende do inseto e estágio de desenvolvimento, que este apresenta, quando coletados já no corpo em decomposição (VOSS et al, 2011).…”