Chrysomya rufifacies: Developmental Analysis Over Range of Temperature: Chrysomya rufifacies

Anwaar  Iftikhar; Rida  Farooq; Muhammad  Ali; Mehvish  Mumtaz; Ruhma  Maqsood; Mubeen  Akhtar; Muddasar  Wahab; Sadaf  Aslam; Mariyam  Munir; Fatima  Yaqoob

doi:10.54393/mjz.v4i02.72

Authors

Anwaar Iftikhar Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Rida Farooq Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Ali Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Mehvish Mumtaz Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Ruhma Maqsood Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Mubeen Akhtar University of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Muddasar Wahab Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Sadaf Aslam Institute of Zoology, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Mariyam Munir Institute of Zoology, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Fatima Yaqoob Department of Zoology, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/mjz.v4i02.72

Keywords:

Zoology, Forensic Science, Forensic entomology, Humid Temperature, Room Temperature, Cold Temperature, Post-Mortem interval (PMI), Forensic Zoology, Criminal Investigation

Abstract

Forensic entomology deals with the study of insects used in criminal investigations. Insects are drawn from the beginning to the decaying carcass and deposit their eggs. Forensic investigators can easily identify the cause of death, the postmortem index, and any changes in the posture of the dead body by observing the insect larval growth and population. Objective: To increase students' interest in pursuing careers related to forensic entomology, this study aims to determine the usefulness and viability of forensic entomology in Pakistan. This also creates an understanding of insects' lifestyles, awareness about beneficial insects, and the development of critical thinking. Forensic entomology plays a role in situations where the body has been dead for a while. Methods: The Maggot Blow Fly (Chrysomya rufifacies) was studied to determine the time since death using insects as evidence. The research at the University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan focused on the fly's life cycle and development under different temperature conditions. The aim was to establish the accuracy of using the fly and its life cycle to estimate postmortem interval. Results: The following conditions were observed: temperature (humid) 190˚C–230˚C and cold temperature (dry) 160˚C–220˚C. Room temperature includes Cold Temperature (Humid) at 230˚C -280˚C and Dry at 220˚C - 260˚C. Conclusions: Chrysomya rufifacies employed in this study have shown that the growth cycle is affected by changes in temperature, and these characteristics may be used to predict the minimal period of death.

Author Biographies

Muhammad Ali, Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Ruhma Maqsood, Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Mubeen Akhtar , University of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

Muddasar Wahab , Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

References

O’Brien C and Turner B. Impact of paracetamol on Calliphora vicina larval development. International Journal of Legal Medicine. 2004 Aug; 118: 188-9. doi: 10.1007/s00414-004-0440-9.

Tracqui A, Keyser-Tracqui C, Kintz P, Ludes B. Entomotoxicology for the forensic toxicologist: much ado about nothing? International Journal of Legal Medicine. 2004 Aug; 118: 194-6. doi: 10.1007/s00414-004-0442-7.

Behonick GS, Massello W, Kuhlman Jr JJ, Saady J. A tale of two drugs in Southwestern Virginia: oxycodone and methadone. InProceedings American Academy of Forensic Sciences. 2003 Feb; 20: 312-313.

Goff ML, Brown WA, Omori AI. Preliminary Observations of the Effect of Methamphetamine in Decomposing Tissues on the Development Rate of (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and Implications of this Effect on the Estimations of Postmortem Intervals. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 1992 May; 37(3): 867-72. doi: 10.1520/JFS11999J.

Goff ML, Brown WA, LaPointe DA, Omori AI. Preliminary Observations of the Effects of Phencyclidine in Decomposing Tissues on the Development of (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Journal of Forensic Sciences. 1994 Jan; 39(1): 123-8. doi: 10.1520/JFS13577J.

Gunatilake K and Goff LL. Detection of organophosphate poisoning in a putrefying body by analyzing arthropod larvae. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 1989 May; 34(3): 714-6. doi: 10.1520/JFS12698J.

Carvahlo L. Toxicology and forensic entomology, Current Concepts in Forensic Entomology, Springer Science. 2010 Jan; 163-78. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-9684-6_9.

Amendt J, Campobasso CP, Gaudry E, Reiter C, LeBlanc HN, JR Hall M. Best practice in forensic entomology—standards and guidelines. International Journal of Legal Medicine. 2007 Mar; 121: 90-104. doi: 10.1007/s00414-006-0086-x.

Beyer JC, Enos WF, Stajić M. Drug identification through analysis of maggots. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 1980 Apr; 25(2): 411-2. doi: 10.1520/JFS12147J.

Introna F, Campobasso CP, Goff ML. Entomotoxicology. Forensic Science International. 2001 Aug; 120(1-2): 42-7. doi: 10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00418-2.

Clarkson CA, Hobischak NR, Anderson GS. A comparison of the development rate of Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy) raised under constant and fluctuating temperature regimes. Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal. 2004 Jan; 37(2): 95-101. doi: 10.1080/00085030.2004.10757567.

Baumgartner DL. The hairy maggot blow fly Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) confirmed in Arizona. Journal of Entomological Science. 1986; 21: 130-2. doi: 10.18474/0749-8004-21.2.130.

Meek CL, Puskarich-May C, Carlton CE. New state record for the hairy maggot blow fly Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart). Southwestern Entomologist. 1998 Jan; 23(4): 373.

Goff ML and Lord WD. Entomotoxicology: a new area for forensic investigation. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. 1994 Mar; 15(1): 51-7. doi: 10.1097/00000433-199403000-00012.

Goodbrod JR and Goff ML. Effects of larval population density on rates of development and interactions between two species of Chrysomya (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in laboratory culture. Journal of Medical Entomology. 1990 May; 27(3): 338-43. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/27.3.338.

Tabor KL, Fell RD, Brewster CC, Pelzer K, Behonick GS. Effects of antemortem ingestion of ethanol on insect successional patterns and development of Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Journal of Medical Entomology. 2005 May; 42(3): 481-9. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/42.3.481.

Byrd JH and Allen JC. The development of the black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen). Forensic Science International. 2001 Aug; 120(1-2): 79-88. doi: 10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00431-5.

Verma K and Paul R. Assessment of post mortem interval, (PMI) from forensic entomotoxicological studies of larvae and flies. Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology. 2013 Apr; 2(104): 2161-0983.

Goff ML, Early M, Odom CB, Tullis K. A preliminary checklist of arthropods associated with exposed carrion in the Hawaiian Islands. Proceedings of the Hawaii Entomological Society 1986 Mar; 26: 53-7.

Chophi R, Sharma S, Sharma S, Singh R. Forensic entomotoxicology: current concepts, trends and challenges. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 2019 Oct; 67: 28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2019.07.010.

Singh D and Bharti M. Further observations on the nocturnal oviposition behaviour of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Forensic Science International. 2001 Aug; 120(1-2): 124-6. doi: 10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00419-4.

Bharti M and Singh D. Occurrence of different larval stages of blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on decaying rabbit carcasses. Journal of Entomological Research 2002 Nov; 25(3): 343-50.

Shiao SF and Yeh TC. Larval competition of Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya rufifacies (Diptera: Calliphoridae): behavior and ecological studies of two blow fly species of forensic significance. Journal of Medical Entomology. 2008 Jul; 45(4): 785-99. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/45.4.785.

Verma K. Forensic Entomology world: A new study on Chrysomya rufifacies from India. Journal of Entomology Zoological Studies. 2013; 1: 125-41.

Champlain RA and Butler JR GD. Temperature effects on development of the egg and nymphal stages of Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 1967 May; 60(3): 519-21. doi: 10.1093/aesa/60.3.519.

Sukontason KL, Sukontason K, Lertthamnongtham S, Kuntalue B, Thijuk N, Vogtsberger RC, et al. Surface ultrastructure of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Journal of Medical Entomology. 2003 May; 40(3): 259-67. doi: 10.1603/0022-2585-40.3.259.

Nabity PD, Higley LG, Heng-Moss TM. Light-Induced Variability in Development of Forensically Important Blow Fly Phormia Regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Journal of Medical Entomology 2007 Mar; 44(2):351-8. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/44.2.351.

Aak A, Knudsen GK, Soleng A, Aballay FH, Dominguez MC, Campón FF, et al. categories such as Taphonomy, Geoarchaeology and Soil Science, and Criminal and Cultural Behavior. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2014 Apr; 6(2): 223-34.

Joseph I, Mathew DG, Sathyan P, Vargheese G. The use of insects in forensic investigations: An overview on the scope of forensic entomology. Journal of Forensic Dental Sciences. 2011 Jul; 3(2): 89. doi: 10.4103/0975-1475.92154.

Amendt J, Krettek R, Zehner R. Forensic entomology. Naturwissenschaften. 2004 Feb; 91: 51-65. doi: 10.1007/s00114-003-0493-5.

Pai CY, Jien MC, Li LH, Cheng YY, Yang CH. Application of forensic entomology to postmortem interval determination of a burned human corpse: a homicide case report from southern Taiwan. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association. 2007 Sep; 106(9): 792-8. doi: 10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60043-1.

Jeevanandan G and Thomas E. Volumetric analysis of hand, reciprocating and rotary instrumentation techniques in primary molars using spiral computed tomography: An in vitro comparative study. European Journal of Dentistry. 2018 Jan; 12(01): 021-6. doi: 10.4103/ejd.ejd_247_17.

Campobasso CP, Gherardi M, Caligara M, Sironi L, Introna F. Drug analysis in blowfly larvae and in human tissues: a comparative study. International Journal of Legal Medicine. 2004 Aug; 118: 210-4. doi: 10.1007/s00414-004-0448-1.

Thyssen PJ and Linhares AX. First description of the immature stages of Hemilucilia segmentaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Biological Research. 2007; 40(3): 271-80. doi: 10.4067/S0716-97602007000400001.

Martin CS, Carlton CE, Meek CL. New distribution record for the hairy maggot blow fly Chrysomya rufifacies. Southwestern Entomologist. 1996; 21(4): 477-8.

Sukontason KL, Sribanditmongkol P, Chaiwong T, Vogtsberger RC, Piangjai S, Sukontason K. Morphology of immature stages of Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann)(Diptera: Calliphoridae) for use in forensic entomology applications. Parasitology Research. 2008 Sep; 103: 877-87. doi: 10.1007/s00436-008-1072-7.

Sukontason K, Piangjai S, Siriwattanarungsee S, Sukontason KL. Morphology and developmental rate of blowflies Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya rufifacies in Thailand: application in forensic entomology. Parasitology Research. 2008 May; 102: 1207-16. doi: 10.1007/s00436-008-0895-6.

Gosselin M, Wille SM, Fernandez MD, Di Fazio V, Samyn N, De Boeck G, et al. Entomotoxicology, experimental set-up and interpretation for forensic toxicologists. Forensic Science International. 2011 May; 208(1-3): 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.12.015.

Bunchu N. Blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Thailand: distribution, morphological identification and medical importance appraisals. International Journal of Parasitology Research. 2012 May; 4(1): 57-64. doi: 10.9735/0975-3702.4.1.57-64.