Abstract
Blow flies (Calliphoridae) are used in forensic entomology studies, because their life cycle help to determine the minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin). Paralucilia fulvinota (Bigot, 1877) is a forensic indicator and is reported from human corpses in the Amazonian region. Our objectives were to describe the development time of P. fulvinota under natural conditions at Ducke Reserve (Amazonas), provide the accumulated degree-days (ADD) and accumulated degree-hour (ADH), body length and mass of larvae, and the sex ratio of adults. Pregnant females were sampled on a swine carcass. From hatched eggs, we reared stock colonies and observed the immature development under uncontrolled conditions of temperature (24.5 ± 1.3 ºC), rainfall (188 ± 11.5 mm³) and humidity (84 ± 3.9%). Development time was 11 days. Adult sex ratio was 0.86. Larvae gained mass at constant rates through the instars but grew less in length from the second to the third instar. Accordingly, P. fulvinota grows more in mass than in length when in larval stage. The period from first stadium to adults lasted 159.5 degree-days and 3828 degree-hours. Our results may be helpful in providing a more accurate estimate of PMImin on corpses encountered in forested areas of the Amazon region.
Highlights
Necrophagous insects are crucial in the decomposition process of cadavers (Feddern et al, 2019)
Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are among the first organisms to arrive in newly deceased corpses (Archer, 2003), because they are highly attracted by the odors released even at long distances (Anderson, 2009)
The main method to obtain the PMI is using accumulated degree-day (ADD), which is based on an estimated linear relationship between development time and rearing temperature of insects (Amendt et al, 2007)
Summary
Necrophagous insects are crucial in the decomposition process of cadavers (Feddern et al, 2019). Among the insects that visit corpses, Diptera and Coleoptera may represent up to 60% of the fauna found throughout the decomposition process (Charabidze et al, 2014; Mariani et al, 2014). The main method to obtain the PMI is using accumulated degree-day (ADD), which is based on an estimated linear relationship between development time and rearing temperature of insects (Amendt et al, 2007). This relationship can only be linear under controlled conditions of temperature (Higley & Peterson, 1994); under uncontrolled conditions, the temperature varies in a hyperbolic manner (Ikemoto & Takai, 2000)
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