Multiple species of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) as contaminants in forensic entomology laboratory insect colony.

In forensic entomology, larval rearing usually includes the presence of biological contaminants including scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae). Scuttle flies are recognized as forensically important insects and have been reported causing nuisance and contamination in laboratory environments. This paper reports for the first time the finding of multiple scuttle fly species affecting colonies of third instar larvae of the Oriental latrine blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), reared indoors at the Forensic Science Simulation Site, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Adult scuttle flies were discovered inside a rearing container after the emergence of adult C. megacephala., The scuttle fly species are Megaselia scalaris (Loew), M. spiracularis Schmitz and Puliciphora borinquenensis (Wheeler). Notes on the life history and biology of these species are discussed herein.

Multiple species of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) as contaminants in forensic entomology laboratory insect colony

In forensic entomology, larval rearing usually includes the presence of biological contaminants including scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae). Scuttle flies are recognized as forensically important insects and have been reported causing nuisance and contamination in laboratory environments. This paper reports for the first time the finding of multiple scuttle fly species affecting colonies of third instar larvae of the Oriental latrine blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), reared indoors at the Forensic Science Simulation Site, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Adult scuttle flies were discovered inside a rearing container after the emergence of adult C. megacephala., The scuttle fly species are Megaselia scalaris (Loew), M. spiracularis Schmitz and Puliciphora borinquenensis (Wheeler). Notes on the life history and biology of these species are discussed herein.

An unusually rich scuttle fly fauna (Diptera, Phoridae) from north of the Arctic Circle in the Kola Peninsula, N. W. Russia.

64 species of Phoridae, in 6 genera, are reported from the Kola Peninsula, north of the Arctic Circle. The new species Megaselia elenae and Megaselia kozlovi are described. 33 species of Megaselia, only known from females, are given code numbers. Keys to the species of all the females of Megaselia and Phora are provided; and also a key to the males European Megaselia species with a notopleural cleft.

A mathematical model applied for assisting the estimation of PMI in a case of forensic importance. First record of Conicera similis (Diptera: Phoridae) in a corpse.

We present a forensic case associated with skeletonized human remains found inside a cistern in a coastal town located in the eastern Iberian Peninsula (Valencian Regional Government, Spain). In order to analyse the particular environmental conditions that occurred during oviposition and development of the collected insects, estimated temperatures at the crime scene were calculated by a predictive mathematical model. This model analyses the correlation between the variability of the internal temperature depending on the variability of the external ones. The amplitude of the temperature oscillations inside the tank and the containment of the enclosure is reduced by the presence of water. Such variation occurred within about 2h due to the time required for heat exchange. The differential equations employed to model differences between outdoor and indoor temperatures were an essential tool which let us estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) that was carried out by the study of the insect succession and the development time of the collected Diptera specimens under the adjusted temperatures. The presence of live larvae and pupae of Sarcophagidae and empty pupae of Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Fanniidae, Muscidae, Phoridae and Piophilidae and the decomposition stage suggested the possibility that the remains were in the tank at least a year. We highlight the absence of Calliphora and Lucilia spp., and the first occurrence of the phorid Conicera similis in a human cadaver among the entomological evidence.

Occurrence of oriental flies associated with indoor and outdoor human remains in the tropical climate of north Malaysia.

Flies attracted to human remains during death investigations were surveyed in north Peninsular Malaysia. Six families, eight genera, and 16 species were identified from human remains, with the greatest fly diversity occurring on remains recovered indoors. The total relative frequency of species was led by Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (46%), followed by Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart, 1842) (22%), Sarcophaga (Liopygia) ruficornis (Fabricius, 1974) (5%), Sarcophaga spp. (4%), Synthesiomyia nudiseta Wulp, 1883 (6%), Megaselia spp. (3%), Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866), (2%), Megaselia spiracularis Schmitz, 1938 (2%), and Chrysomya villeneuvi Patton, 1922 (2%). Hemipyrellia tagaliana (Bigot, 1877), Desmometopa sp., Megaselia curtineura (Brues, 1909), Hemipyrellia ligurriens Wiedemann 1830, Ophyra sp., Sarcophaga princeps Wiedemann 1830, Piophila casei (Linnaeus, 1758), and unidentified pupae each represented 1%, respectively.

First report of Triphleba nudipalpis (Becker) (Diptera: Phoridae) in a forensic case.

The only insects found on a corpse of a murder victim buried at least 1m deep in a heavy clay soil in East of England proved to be Triphleba nudipalpis (Becker), a species not previously reported from a forensic case. Its larva is described.

Natural history of the scuttle fly, Megaselia scalaris.

The larvae of Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) exploit a broad spectrum of larval pabula. Consequently, the species features in a range of situations that affect the resources or well-being of humans. Furthermore, M. scalaris is readily cultured in the laboratory and is therefore favored as an experimental species for genetic, developmental, and bioassay studies. However, the extensive but widely scattered literature, reviewed herein, is frequently ignored by specialists, which gives rise to the unwitting repetition of previous work as well as insupportable proposals.

The use of Megaselia abdita (Diptera: Phoridae) in forensic entomology.

This case study demonstrates the importance of the Phorid, Megaselia abdita (Schmitz), as an indicator for post-mortem interval estimation in criminal investigations involving forensic entomology where it is usually the more frequently occurring Calliphorids that are most useful. A case example is discussed where the temperatures were low for the period of time the deceased was missing.

First occurrences of the Phorid, Megaselia abdita, in forensic cases in Britain.

The first two cases of the occurrence of Megaselia abdita Schmitz (Diptera: Phoridae) in human corpses in Britain are reported and a further case of M. rufipes (Meigen). In all three cases the corpses experienced low temperatures.

Duration of development of two species of carrion-breeding scuttle flies and forensic implications.

A procedure for rearing carrion-breeding scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) under naturally fluctuating temperatures is described. Data on the duration of development of the egg stage, egg plus feeding larval stages, postfeeding larvae and total development from egg to adult, at different temperature regimes (means of daily means) are tabulated for Megaselia giraudii (Egger) and M. rufipes (Meigen). The variation is greater than previously supposed and involves larvae derived from the same egg batch leaving the bait in successive waves. Despite this variation the tables allow the provision of percentage probabilities of estimations of the earliest oviposition dates for specimens collected from a forensic case.

Potential use of Braconidae (Hymenoptera) in forensic cases.

The larvae of small Diptera, such as Phoridae, from forensic cases are frequently identified by rearing out the adults. However, parasitoid Hymenoptera are often obtained instead. Rather than discarding these, it is suggested that, with a knowledge of their durations of development, they can be employed as surrogates for their hosts for estimating a minimum postmortem interval. Some data for a forensically important species of Phoridae parasitized by a species of Braconidae are presented.

Observations on a zoonosis: leishmaniasis in British Honduras

More than 1600 mammals were examined for infections of Leishmania mexicana. Fourteen infected rats belonging to three species were trapped. A fourth species was experimentally infected. More than 3000 sandflies attracted to rats and oppusums are recorded, principal species being Lutzomyia cruciata, L.flaviscutellata, L. panamensis, L. shannoni, L.permira and L. trinidadensis. More than 2000 sandflies were dissected and flagellates found in twelve. Three strains from L. flaviscutellata proved to be infections of Leishmania mexicana. Many observations on the ecology of the rats and the sandflies are presented and discussed. It is concluded, in the light of the ecological observations, that the rat Ototylomys phyllotis is the principal reservoir host and the fly Lutzomyia flaviscutellata is the principal vector of Leishmania mexicana in British Honduras (Summary)