Morphology and identification of first instars of European and Mediterranean blowflies of forensic importance. PartIII: Calliphorinae

Abstract

First instars of Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus) and Cynomya mortuorum (Linnaeus) (both: Diptera: Calliphoridae) are thoroughly documented with scanning electron microscopy images, light microscopy photographs and line drawings. Substantial new data are provided for the following morphological structures: pseudocephalon; antennal complex; maxillary palpus; facial mask; cephaloskeleton; thoracic and abdominal spinulation; spiracular field, and posterior spiracles. Earlier descriptions are summarized and major discrepancies with the current study are discussed. An identification key to first-instar larvae of the five European species of Calliphorinae of forensic importance is presented. However, it remains impossible to distinguish the first instars of Ca. vicina and Cy. mortuorum based on external morphology with the current level of knowledge.