ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 November 2002
Page Count: 5

Effect of Temperature on Development of Liopygia (= Sarcophaga) argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and Its Forensic Implications
Reiter, C
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Vienna,

Grassberger, M

(Received 11 June 2002; accepted 29 May 2002)

Abstract

The temperature-dependent development of the forensically important flesh fly Liopygia (Thomsonea) argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy) (= Sarcophaga argyrostoma) was studied at six constant temperature regimes in the laboratory. Total developmental time of L. argyrostoma from larviposition to adult emergence was 54.9 ± 1.45, 31.3 ± 1.1, 22.2 ± 0.67, 16.3 ± 0.54, and 14.9 ± 0.4 days (±S.D.) when reared at 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C, respectively. At 8°C, larval development was not completed. From linear regression of development rates of five of the six studied constant temperature regimes, it was determined that the minimum development threshold (tL) for total immature development is 7.4°C, and the overall thermal constant (K) for L. argyrostoma is 396.4 ± 19.18 (mean ± S.D.) day-degrees (DD) above the threshold.

Keywords:
forensic science, Liopygia argyrostoma, Sarcophaga argyrostoma, Sarcophagidae, forensic entomology, postmortem interval, myiasis, development time, thermal constant

Paper ID: JFS15570J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15570J
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