THE SUCCESSION AND RATE OF DEVELOPMENT OF BLOWFLIES IN CARRION IN SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND AND THE APPLICATION OF THESE DATA TO FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY

Abstract The succession and rate of development of insects in carrion is potentially a useful and accurate tool for determining the length of time elapsed since death, but the accuracy of this method in Queensland has been severely limited by lack of data. The occurrence of the following species in carrion in the Brisbane district and at a site 450 km west of Brisbane from 1975 to 1979 is discussed: Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann), Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Calliphora augur (F.), Calliphora stygia (F.), Calliphora hilli (Patton), Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart), Chrysomya varipes (Macquart), Chrysomya megacephala (F.), Chrysomya nigripes Aubertin, Chrysomya saffranea (Bigot), Hemipyrellia ligurriens Wiedemann, Chrysomya megacephala (F)., Tricholioproctia tryoni (J. and T.), Ophyra spinigera Stein and Australophyra rostrafa (R. ‐D.). Detailed observations at constant temperatures were made on rate of development of flies commonly infesting human cadavers. The duration of the egg, first and second larval instars, total feeding period, total larval period, pupal period and egg to adult period are given for the following species at the temperatures indicated: L. cuprina (15–34°C), C. augur (9–28°C), C. srygia (9–28°C), Ch. rufifcies (20–34°C) and A. rostrara (9–28°C). Limited data on rate of development of Ch. varipes, Ch. sajranea, Ch. nigripes and Ch. megacephala are also included. The application of these data to forensic entomology is discussed.