Indoors forensic entomology: Colonization of human remains in closed environments by specific species of sarcosaprophagous flies

Occurrences of flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) on human cadavers in Switzerland, and their importance as forensic indicators

“…This species differs from S. argyrostoma by showing a preference for outdoor situations. However, this has to be confirmed by more data about its ecology and behaviour, and it should be mentioned that a recent case from Finland involved S. caerulescens breeding in a corpse found indoors [56]. Even if we were able to calculate one PMI with reasonable accuracy, we will not recommend the use of this species until more specific information has been collected.…”

First Forensic Record of Blowfly, Calliphora vicina, Larvae on an Indoor Human Corpse in Winter, South of Iran

“…This species has been reported to have a minimal developmental threshold of 1°C [18]. A number of authors have reported this species during cold season on human corpses [9,16]. Our study revealed that C. vicina can be important in medicolegal investigations in this city at low temperatures (-4 to 2°C) during winter.…”

“…Flies are faster than other insects like beetles infesting human bodies. The Calliphora genus, also known as bluebottles, was recently reported on a cadaver as soon as 2-3 h after death [9]. The urban bluebottle blowfly species, Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy 1830, have been reported on human corpses both in outdoor and indoor settings [10].…”

Scavenging in Northwestern Europe: A Survey of UK Police Specialist Search Officers

“…Respondents may have had more experiences with such remains because whole remains would be expected to have greater chances of being recovered than those deposited as dismembered because the lesser weight of dismembered elements would allow scavengers of certain sizes to remove elements (Morton and Lord 2006;Clark et al, 1997;Komar, 1998). Dismembered remains or those deposited with trauma expose soft tissue to weather conditions and insect activity which can increase the rate of decomposition of the remains (Bass, 1997;Benecke, 1998;Campobasso et al, 2001;Kulshrestha and Satpathy, 2001;Pohjoismäki et al, 2010). An increased rate of decomposition can contribute to easier disarticulation and removal of elements by different scavenger species (Morton and Lord 2006;Clark et al, 1997;Komar, 1998).…”