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This work investigated the effects of butylscopolamine bromide, a drug present in the pharmaceutical formulation Buscopan, on the development of Chrysomya megacephala, a blow fly species of considerable forensic and medical importance in Brazil. Larvae exposed to the drug showed a decreased rate of development, with higher drug concentrations further retarding the development. Besides, larvae reared on the presence of the drug showed smaller body weight and body length when compared with larvae reared on the absence of Buscopan. The drug also affected the mortality of the species.

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ABSTRACT. Influence of photoperiod on body weight and depth of burrowing in larvae of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and implications for forensic entomology. Blowflies use discrete, ephemeral breeding sites for larval nutrition. After exhaustion of the food supply, the larvae disperse in search of sites to pupate or to seek other sources of food in a process known as post-feeding larval dispersal. In this study, some of the most important aspects of this process were investigated in larvae of the blowflies Chrysomya megacephala exposed to a variety of light: dark (LD) cycles (0:0 h, 12:12 h and 24:0 h) and incubated in tubes covered with vermiculite. For each pupa, the body weight and depth of burrowing were determined. Statistical tests were used to examine the relationship of depth of burrowing and body weight to photoperiod at which burrowing occurred. The study of burial behavior in post-feeding larval dispersing can be useful for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) of human corpses in forensic medicine.

ABSTRACT. Effect of the substrate for pupation in the postfeeding larval dispersal of Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Blowflies utilize discrete and ephemeral sites for breeding and larval nutrition. After the exhaustion of food, the larvae begin dispersing to search for pupation sites or for additional food sources, a process referred to as postfeeding larval dispersal. However the nature of the substrate can affect this process. Some of the most important aspects of this behavior were here investigated in Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), utilizing a circular arena covered with vermiculite allowing the post-feeding larval dispersal from the center and to comparing with others studies that used sawdust. To determinate the location of each pupa, the arena was divided into 72 equal sectors from the center. For each pupa, weight, dispersal distance from the center of arena, and depth were determined. Statistical tests were performed to verify the relationship among weight, depth and distance of burial for pupation. The larvae that dispersed farthest were those with lower weights, as in other studies that employed other substrates. The majority of individuals reached the burial depth for pupation between 2 and 8 cm (mean 4.96 ± 2.97 cm). The study of this dispersal process can be helpful in the estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) for human corpses in medico-criminal investigations. KEYWORDS.Blowflies, Calliphoridae, Chrysomya albiceps, substrate for pupation, larval dispersal. RESUMO.As moscas-varejeiras utilizam substratos discretos e efêmeros para posturas dos ovos e para alimentação das larvas. Após a exaustão de recursos, as larvas começam a procurar por um sítio de pupação no habitat ou por mais fonte de alimento adicional (dispersão larval pós-alimentar). No entanto, o tipo de substrato de dispersão pode afetar este processo; assim, procurou-se avaliar o comportamento de dispersão de Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann 1819) por meio da localização das pupas em arenas circulares preenchidas com vermiculita, comparando-se com outros estudos feitos em serragem. As arenas foram dividas em 72 setores iguais a partir do centro de dispersão para facilitar a localização das pupas no substrato. A massa, a distância de dispersão do centro de arena, e a profundidade de cada pupa foram determinadas e verificou-se a relação entre peso, profundidade e distância do centro de dispersão. Pôde-se constatar que as larvas com menor massa foram as que percorreram maior distância do centro de dispersão, como também foi observado em estudos anteriores que empregaram outros substratos. O sítio de pupação da maioria dos indivíduos foi entre 2 e 8 cm de profundidade (média 4,96 2,97 cm). Tal estudo do processo de dispersão pode ser útil na estimativa do intervalo pós-morte (IPM) para corpos humanos em investigações médico-criminais. PALAVRAS-CHAVE.Calliphoridae, Chrysomya albiceps, dispersão larval, moscas-varejeiras, substrato para pupação.