Abstract:Identification of species involved in cadaveric decomposition, such as scavenger Diptera, is a fundamental step for the use of entomological evidence in court. Identification based on morphology is widely used in forensic cases; however, taxonomic knowledge of scavenger fauna is poor for many groups and for many countries, particularly Neotropical ones. A number of studies have documented the utility of a DNA barcoding strategy to assist in the identification of poorly known and diverse groups, particularly in… Show more
“…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].…”
Changes in common and widespread insect populations such as the domestic filth fly in urban cities are useful and relevant bioindicators for overall changes in the insect biomass. The current study surveyed necrophagous flies by placing a weekly trap from June–September over a two-year period in the city of New Haven, Connecticut, to compare data on fly abundance and diversity with data collected 78 years earlier. Climate and land cover changes were also assessed in combination with the fly population for each period. The survey results suggest the domestic filth fly population is now less diverse with decreased species richness and changes in the relative abundance of species. In both surveys, 95–96% of the population was composed of only three species. The current survey data indicate the numerical dominance of Lucilia sericata has decreased, the abundance of several species, notably Lucilia coeruleiviridis, has increased, and Lucilia illustris is absent. Species that showed a significant interaction with temperature in the 1940s survey have now increased in abundance, with several of the trapped species continuing to show an interaction with temperature and rainfall. Analysis of the land cover and climate data characterizes the trap site as a region exposed to a prolonged period of industrialization and urbanization, with only 7% of the land cover remaining undeveloped and over 50% impervious, coupled with an increase in temperature and rainfall. This study serves as a model for changes in domestic filth fly populations and other insects in similarly highly urbanized established cities.
“…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].…”
Changes in common and widespread insect populations such as the domestic filth fly in urban cities are useful and relevant bioindicators for overall changes in the insect biomass. The current study surveyed necrophagous flies by placing a weekly trap from June–September over a two-year period in the city of New Haven, Connecticut, to compare data on fly abundance and diversity with data collected 78 years earlier. Climate and land cover changes were also assessed in combination with the fly population for each period. The survey results suggest the domestic filth fly population is now less diverse with decreased species richness and changes in the relative abundance of species. In both surveys, 95–96% of the population was composed of only three species. The current survey data indicate the numerical dominance of Lucilia sericata has decreased, the abundance of several species, notably Lucilia coeruleiviridis, has increased, and Lucilia illustris is absent. Species that showed a significant interaction with temperature in the 1940s survey have now increased in abundance, with several of the trapped species continuing to show an interaction with temperature and rainfall. Analysis of the land cover and climate data characterizes the trap site as a region exposed to a prolonged period of industrialization and urbanization, with only 7% of the land cover remaining undeveloped and over 50% impervious, coupled with an increase in temperature and rainfall. This study serves as a model for changes in domestic filth fly populations and other insects in similarly highly urbanized established cities.
Malathion is a widely used organophosphorus pesticide; it is also a molecule of forensic interest due to its moderate to high toxicity in nontarget organisms, humans included. This compound is present in some fatal intoxications, accidental or intentional; its presence in the tissues on which the cadaveric entomofauna feeds may affect its growth rate and life cycle duration leading to an error in the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). Since the toxic effect of malathion on the cadaveric entomofauna could affect the estimation of the PMImin, the aim of this work was to study the toxic effect of malathion on the growth and development of the scuttle fly, Megaselia scalaris, a fly of forensic interest which plays an important role in forensics cases related to human remains found indoors or in concealed environments. The study was complemented with some morphological observations; no morphological changes were observed in the larvae, nor the adult flies exposed to malathion. Malathion affects the viability of the egg and pupa, it also reduces the larval growth rate and increases the duration of the larval stage; therefore, the estimation of the PMImin, with this species when malathion is present in tissues, could be affected.
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