ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate necrophagous blowflies to confirm their forensic importance in criminal investigations and to produce a pictorial key to easily identify blowflies that are likely to be present at the scene of death. Of the 26 calliphorid species recorded in Korea, 16 species were sampled from 103 animal cadavers including 63 rabbits and 40 pigs. We identified 13 species in Calliphorinae, Aldrichina grahami (Aldrich), Calliphora nigribarbis Vollenhoven (= C. lata Coquillett), C. subalpina (Ringdahl), C. vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy), C. vomitoria (L.), Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann), Lucilia ampullacea Villeneuve, L. caesar (L.), L. cuprina (Wiedemann), L. illustris (Meigen), L. papuensis Macquart, L. porphyrina (Walker), and L. sericata (Meigen), and three species in Chrysomyinae, Chrysomya megacephala (F.), Ch. pinguis (Walker), and Ch. rufifacies (Macquart). They were repeatedly recorded from various localities in different habitats and seasons. These species should be given importance in approaches to forensic science particularly as their ecological implications are well understood. An identification key for these forensically essential species is prepared in a user-friendly manner using characteristics easily visible to the bare eye or at least under a magnifying glass.