Effects of Tissue Type and Temperature on Selected Life-History Traits of the Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga Crassipalpis (Macquart, 1839) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Abstract

The flesh fly, Sarcophaga crassipalpis Macquart 1839 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), colonizes estimation of the minimum post-mortem interval (min-PMI). This study examined the effects of different types of tissues and temperature on the development of S. crassipalpis. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to investigate the effects of life-history information of S. crassipalpis. Larvae were reared on three tissue types, chicken heart, bovine minced meat, and bovine tongue, at five temperatures, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 32 degrees C. Pupal and larval development time, adult weight, and pupal and larval survival differed significantly for tissue type and temperature. Temperature had a significant effect on pupal weight but tissue type did not significantly affect pupal weight. The duration of the larval and pupal stages (except of chicken heart, 30 degrees C) decreased with increasing temperature, except for 32 degrees C, in all tissue types. Larval survival was lowest at 32 degrees C in bovine minced meat, bovine tongue, and chicken heart, and at 32 degrees C, all pupae failed to reach the adult stage in minced meat. The results of this study highlight the necessity of considering larval diet and temperature in forensic investigations.