The decomposition of small carcasses in the open is frequently neglected although it may provide information of forensic importance. This paper describes an experimental study of arthropod species associated with carcasses of mouse, Mus musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) and rat, Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769) (Rodentia: Muridae). Four carcasses were left inside iron cages in sunlit and shady area...

Adult specimens of Cochliomyia macellaria, Chrysomya megacephala, Ch. rufifacies, Lucilia sp. (Calliphoridae), Musca domestica (Muscidae), Oxelytrum discicolle (Silphidae) and Sarcophagidae were recovered from 12 human cadavers in Cali, Valle, Colombia. Information regarding these findings is presented.

The family Calliphoridae is widely known to lead the colonization of corpses and their development rates are frequently used to estimate the postmortem interval. This study presents the larval growth of five forensically important species of Calliphoridae in Colombia. Rearing took place in semicontrolled field conditions where the egg masses were collected. We show curves of larval growth, larv...

The asymmetry phenotype of diazinon-resistant flies lacking a fitness/asymmetry Modifier (+/+; R/-) was dominant and independent of developmental temperature, larval density and diazinon concentration. Asymmetry score, pooled over three bristle characters, was approximately 50% greater for these phenotypes than for those of modified genotypes (M/+; +/+) and unmodified susceptibles (+/+; S/S) re...

BLOW FLIES (DIPTERA Calliphoridae) show a great diversity in behavior and ecology, play important roles in ecosystems, and have medical and forensic importance to humans. Despite this, the taxonomy and classification of Taiwan's Calliphoridae have rarely been studied. In this study, specimens of Taiwanese calliphorids were collected and carefully studied, and all 76 species recorded in Taiwan a...

This paper presents a diffusion model of larval dispersal specifically designed to account for particular aspects of postfeeding larval dispersal from the food source in organisms such as blowflies. In these organisms the dispersal of immatures includes two groups of individuals, those that are actively migrating and those that have initiated the pupation process. The classical diffusion equati...

The reliable morphological identification of carrion-breeding blowflies is important ecologically, as well as for medical, veterinary and forensic reasons. To date, no comprehensive key has been available to make this possible for workers in southern Australia. An illustrated key is presented to the adults of all species of blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) south of 30 degrees S known or suspe...

During locomotion, animals employ visual and mechanical cues in order to establish the orientation of their head, which reflects the orientation of the visual coordinate system. However, in certain situations, contradictory cues may suggest different orientations relative to the environment. We recorded blowflies walking on a horizontal or tilted surface surrounded by visual cues suggesting a v...

Rate of development of forensically-important Diptera in southern Brazil. Dipteran larvae were collected from rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus L.) carcasses during the four seasons in 2005 in the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The larvae were fed ground beef at ambient temperatures following collection from carcasses. The development of each species under these conditions was es...

1. Sherman RA, Hall MJR, Thomas S. Medicinal maggots: an ancient remedy for some contemporary afflictions. Annu Rev Entomol 2000; 45: 55-81. 2. Cronje FJ, Avenant L. MDT in South Africa today. Palmnut Post 2006; 9(2): 8-10. 3. Harvey ML, Gaudieri S, Villet MH, Dadour IR. A global study of forensically significant calliphorids: implications for identification. Forensic Sci Int (in press): doi:10...