Research Progress of Carrion-breeding Phorid Flies for Post-mortem Interval Estimation in Forensic Medicine / 法医学杂志

It is a difficult problem of forensic medicine to accurately estimate the post-mortem interval. Entomological approach has been regarded as an effective way to estimate the post-mortem interval. The developmental biology of carrion-breeding flies has an important position at the post-mortem interval estimation. Phorid flies are tiny and occur as the main or even the only insect evidence in relatively enclosed environments. This paper reviews the research progress of carrion-breeding phorid flies for estimating post-mortem interval in forensic medicine which includes their roles, species identification and age determination of immatures.

Research Progress of Carrion-breeding Phorid Flies for Post-mortem Interval Es-timation in Forensic Medicine / 法医学杂志

It is a difficult problem of forensic medicine to accurately estimate the post-mortem interval. Entomological approach has been regarded as an effective way to estimate the post-mortem interval. The developmental biology of carrion-breeding flies has an important position at the post-mortem inter-val estimation. Phorid flies are tiny and occur as the main or even the only insect evidence in relatively enclosed environments. This paper reviews the research progress of carrion-breeding phorid flies for esti-mating post-mortem interval in forensic medicine which includes their roles, species identification and age determination of immatures.

Research Notes on the Prevalence and Ovipositional Tendency of Forensically Important Scuttle Fly (Diptera: Phoridae) Found in an Urban Area in Malaysia / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

Phorid flies play an important role in forensic cases and can cause myiasis in humans. Studies on phorid flies species diversity are still limited in Malaysia. This research was carried out to collect information about species and frequency distribution of phorid flies as to provide more information on their roles in forensic and medical entomology. Bait trap was used with 100 g beef liver as baits. The species of the flies were identified using identification keys from Disney as well as Brown and Oliver. There were 449 phorid flies found in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur including Megaselia scalaris, Megaselia spiracularis, Megaselia sp. and phorid flies of genus X. Female phorid flies (98.89%) were found more prone to be trapped compared to male phorid flies (1.11%). Most phorid flies trapped in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur were from genus Megaselia and consisted of female flies. A total of five species of phorid flies probably new to science were also discovered. This study showed that Megaselia flies were found indoors rather than in open spaces. This was corresponding to their discoveries among the decomposing corpse found inside premises.

Parasitismo por Neodohrniphora spp. Malloch (Diptera, Phoridae) em operárias de Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) / Parasitism by Neodohrniphora spp. Malloch (Diptera, Phoridae) on workers of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Parasitóides do gênero Neodohrniphora Malloch, 1914 geralmente atacam operárias de Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908 em baixa freqüência, mas os ataques alteram o ritmo de forrageamento das colônias, reduzindo o número e tamanho das operárias e aumentando o abandono de fragmentos vegetais ao longo das trilhas. O forrageamento de A. sexdens rubropilosa pode ser diurno ou noturno, mas existem dúvidas se Neodohrniphora spp. atacam as operárias dessa formiga também durante a noite. Os objetivos deste estudo foram verificar a ocorrência de ataques e avaliar o grau de parasitismo de forídeos do gênero Neodohrniphora em operárias de A. sexdens rubropilosa sob três níveis de luminosidade em laboratório, incluindo a ausência de luz. Os níveis de luminosidade foram: alta (0,65 µmol/m³/s); baixa (0,05 µmol/m³/s) e ausência de luz (0,0 µmol/m³/s). Fêmeas de Neodohrniphora tonhascai Brown, 2001 e Neodohrniphora elongata Brown, 2001 coletadas no campo e liberadas em laboratório somente efetuaram ataques e foram obtidas operárias parasitadas sob alta luminosidade, sugerindo que essas espécies não são ativas no campo durante o período noturno (ausência de luz). Os resultados sugerem também que o estímulo visual em Neodohrniphora spp. pode ser um componente essencial para a localização e reconhecimento do hospedeiro.

Parasitoids of the genus Neodohrniphora Malloch, 1914 generally attack workers of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908 in low ratios. However these attacks alter the foraging rhythm and reduces the number and size of workers as well as increases the number of abandoned plant fragments along the trails. A. sexdens rubropilosa can have a diurnal or nocturnal foraging activity, but it is uncertain if Neodohrniphora spp. attacks workers of this host during the night. The objective of this work was to verify the occurrence of Neodohrniphora phorids attacks and the level of parasitism on workers of A. sexdens rubropilosa under three light levels in laboratory, including the darkness. The levels of illumination were: high-light (0.65 µmol/m³/s); low-light (0.05 µmol/m³/s) and darkness (0.0 µmol/m³/s). Field collected parasitoid females (Neodohrniphora tonhascai Brown, 2001 and Neodohrniphora elongate Brown, 2001) released in laboratory have attacked and parasitized A. sexdens rubropilosa workers only under high-light level. This suggests that these two Neodohrniphora species are not active in the field during the night (darkness) and that visual stimulus could be an essential component to the location and recognition of the host.

First record of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae) infesting laboratory colonies of Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Megaselia scalaris (Loew) is a cosmopolitan and synanthropic scuttle fly, eclectic in its feeding habits and acts as detritivore, parasite, facultative parasite, and parasitoid. Here we report for the first time M. scalaris infesting laboratory colonies of Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva, the most important Chagas disease vector in semiarid areas of Brazil. M. scalaris larvae were found feeding inside bugs; pupae were found in the esophagus and intestinal regions of T. brasiliensis through dissection. Other relevant information about this finding is also described in this note, including some preventive measures to avoid laboratory colonies infestations.

Megaselia scalaris (Loew) é uma mosca cosmopolita, sinantrópica e eclética quanto aos seus hábitos alimentares, tendo sido descrita como detritívora, parasita, parasita facultativa e parasitóide. Nesta nota, registra-se pela primeira vez, M. scalaris infestando colônias de laboratório de Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva, o mais importante vetor da doença de Chagas no semi-árido brasileiro. Larvas de M. scalaris foram encontradas alimentando-se dos órgãos internos dos triatomíneos; pupas foram encontradas na região intestinal e esofagiana de exemplares de T. brasiliensis dissecados. Outras informações relevantes sobre o achado são descritas nesta nota, bem como medidas preventivas para evitar infestações por M. scalaris em colônias de triatomíneos.