In 1988 and 1989, seasonal field studies on exposed rabbit carcasses were conducted in Alexandria, Egypt, to describe the decomposition process and arthropod succession patterns. Four decomposition stages were recognized: fresh, bloated, decay, and dry. Carcasses in summer and spring decayed at a much faster rate than those in fall and winter. The bloated stage in summer lasted longer than in spring because of the difference in breeding biology of the primary flies infesting carcasses in these seasons. Dipterous larvae of the family Calliphoridae, and to a lesser extent of the families Sarcophagidae and Muscidae, were responsible for the process of carrion degradation. Carrion-arthropod communities in cooler seasons were distinguished from those in warmer seasons by the presence of certain dipterous (muscids and fanniids) and coleopterous larvae, and by adults of small flies such as sphaerocerids and scatopsids. The presence of adult psychodids, sciarids, and phorids was unique to the winter carrion-arthropod community. Eleven species of carrion-breeding Diptera were found to coexist in the study site. The coexistence of the 2 calliphorids Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) and Lucilia sericata (Meigen) in carrion in fall and spring is a new record for the Palaearctic Region. In spring, 3rd instars of C. albiceps were observed preying on the pupae of their own species. Although the carcasses were of equal size and simultaneously exposed, there was considerable variation in the rate of decay among fall carcasses only, which was attributed to unknown reasons at the beginning of the experiment and to heavy rains later on. This affected oviposition and the feeding period of maggots. Approximately 100 arthropod species were recovered on carcasses throughout the study. Diptera was the predominant group, whereas Coleoptera ranked 2nd. Carcasses in cooler seasons were richer in species than in warmer seasons.

Length of the oldest maggots recovered from a body often provide an accurate estimate of the time since death. The length of maggots of Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy) of known age, at peak of feeding, was measured after 5 days immersion in one of 15 killing and preservative solutions, some of which are routinely used at autopsy and in forensic entomology; controls were killed in boiling water. There was shrinkage in all 15 solutions which translated into an underage error of 9.7 h in 70% ethanol, 11 h in San Veino and 16.8 h in formalin. Larvae of Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) underwent even greater shrinkage, which resulted in an underage error of 19.2 h in 70% ethanol, 26.4 h in formalin and 28.8 h in San Veino. Young third instar larvae underwent more shrinkage than older ones, with underage errors (in hours) as follows: P. terraenovae—70% ethanol, 24 and San Veino, 24; C. vicina—70% ethanol, 7.2 and San Veino, 14.4. Maggots killed in boiling water and then placed in preservative solutions did not shrink. Length of the crop, which may be useful in age estimates of postfeeding larvae, was not altered significantly for forensic purposes in these solutions. The highly significant alterations in maggot length underscore a need for standardization in the treatment of maggots collected at the crime scene and at autopsy if their length is to be interpreted in a valid and consistent way. Recommendations are made for treatment of maggots wherever they are collected.

The minimum developmental rates of Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy) and Calliphora vomitoria (L.) were measured at four temperatures: 12.5, 23, 29, and 35 degrees C. Although both species are Holarctic in distribution and hemisynanthropic, there are important differences in the response of their developmental stages to various temperature regimes. The eggs and feeding larvae of P. terraenovae responded linearly to temperatures from 23 to 35 degrees C, but development was retarded at 12.5 degrees C. The feeding larvae took about 11 times longer to develop at 12.5 than at 23 degrees C, indicating poor cold adaptation. The converse is true of C. vomitoria, which took only 2 times as long at 12.5 than at 23 degrees C but failed to complete development at 29 and 35 degrees C. Our laboratory data and field studies of others suggest that, in nature, P. terraenovae and C. vomitoria prefer breeding in larger carcasses as a survival tactic and means of extending their distribution into colder regions.

The results highlight the potential benefits of MDT in diabetic wound care in developing countries. MDT was proved to be a rapid, simple and efficient method of treating these ulcers.

The introduction of 4 Chrysomya Robineau-Desvoidy spp. to the Americas has made obsolete previously published keys to Nearctic calliphorid larvae, particularly those covering the subfamily Chrysomyinae. To assist forensic entomologists, ecologists, and public health workers, we provide a key to 3rd instars of 8 chrysomyine species reported from or likely to occur in carrion within the continental United States. The rare (in the United States) species Cochliomyia aldrichi Del Ponte, C. minima Shannon, and Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau-Desvoidy) are not included because specimens and suitable descriptions were unavailable.

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