Forensically relevant blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of Central Connecticut, USA

Domestic Filth Flies in New Haven, Connecticut: A Case Study on the Effects of Urbanization and Climate Change by Comparing Fly Populations after 78 Years

“…The species was previously listed as common in the southwestern US [56], while it is now a dominant blow fly species on the US East Coast, especially in the summer, as reported in Virginia [71], Florida [72], and New Jersey [73], where it is often reported as the most abundant species, the first to arrive on carrion, and the first to complete development [72]. High numbers of the species, second only to L. sericata, were also trapped in Hartford County, approximately 65 km north of the New Haven trap site [42]. Temperature and rainfall both significantly affected L. coeruleiviridis numbers in the 1940s survey.…”

“…Lucilia illustris was absent from the current New Haven traps. In nearby surveys, the species has only been trapped in very low numbers in Hartford county in 2019 and not in 2020 [42] and in very low numbers in New Jersey in 2011-2013 but not in 2014 [81]. The species is still currently one of the most abundant necrophagous Diptera in areas such as New Brunswick, Canada, together with P. regina [82] and was found to be the numerically dominant species in southern Finland for 15 years [83].…”

“…As noted, different type of fly traps were used in the 1940s and the current survey; however, they are of a similar type and size. The hanging Diptera cone trap [42] used in the present day study and the conical hoop flytrap [1,43] used in the 1940s survey are of similar design, composed of an inverted screen cone inside a screen cylinder placed over a container holding bait. In both traps, flies enter the elevated base to access the bait and are trapped when flying or walking upwards through a small hole at the apex of the cone and into the cylinder.…”

“…The absence of manure from the present-day trap may account for the absence of four of the species listed in Table 4: Ch. splendida, D. picta, Toxomerus geminatus, and Scathophaga spp, while all other species have been shown to colonize carrion or frequent carrion baited traps [42,81,[116][117][118][119][120].…”

“…A hanging Diptera cone trap [42] baited with 200 g of raw pork meat was placed weekly from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from the beginning of June to the end of September in 2019 and 2020. The trap was hung approximately 1.5 m from the ground in an overgrown partly shaded lot between two buildings.…”