Postembryonic Development of Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner, 1862) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Abstract

A description of the larval development of Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner, 1862) is given. An interpretation of the morphological development correlated with functional and adaptive aspects of myiasis-causing flies is also included. A detailed analysis of morphological changes that occurred in W. magnifica larvae during postembryonic development is carried out. These changes happen in 2 larval interinstars, I-II and II-III, in which several structures such as anterior and posterior peritremes and cephalopharyngeal skeleton play an important role. The possible functions of these structures are considered. We also describe the first instar in W. magnifica to differentiate it from that belonging to Sarcophaga species, paying special attention to disposition of the cephalopharyngeal skeleton, anterior peritremes, and spinulation on the last 3 segments. Several structures, not described previously in Sarcophagidae, were observed: modified spines of the buccal and peritremal cavities, peritremal tubercles, and modified spines on the ventral surface. Changes occurring in these structures during larval development are described. Their probable role in the taxonomy of the genus Wohlfahrtia and their application to Nearctic species belonging to this genus, Wohlfahrtia vigil and Wohlfahrtia opaca, are also discussed.

Forensically important flesh fly species in Thailand: morphology and developmental rate

“…Biological knowledge of flesh flies has been widely investigated in many parts of the world for various aspects, for example morphology of the larva Leite 1986, 1987;Leite and Lopes 1987;Ruiz-Martinez et al 1989), physiology (Rinehart et al 2001;Moribayashi et al 2001Moribayashi et al , 2002, development (Byrd and Butler 1998), control (Moursy 1997), ecology (Eesa and el-Sibae 1993), and identification (Zehner et al 2004). Specifically, applied to forensic entomology, larvae of flesh flies have been reported for drug analysis (Definis-Gojanovic et al 2007) and implication in estimating the postmortem interval (Christopherson and Gibo 1997).…”

Pulse granuloma of the lip: morphologic clues in its differential diagnosis

“…However, that is not always the case: C. anthropophagi mainly presents on areas of the body that are covered, because it usually spreads from contaminated clothes. Other species show a tendency to infect areas of trauma or mucosal surfaces: that is the case of W. magnifica . or of screworm flies …”

A Case of Cutaneous Myiasis Caused byWohlfahrtia magnifica

“…W. magnifica is a member of the Sacrophagidae. The adult insect limits its period of flying to the hottest month of the year and its harmful activity to the hottest hours of the day (2, 3, 14). Our patient presented in July.…”