- Title
- Key for the identification of third instar larvae of African blowflies (Diptera Calliphoridae) of forensic importance in death investigations
- Creator
- Szpila, Krzysztof, Williams, Kirstin A, Soszyńska, Agnieszka, Ekanem, Mfon, Heyns, Marise, Dinka, Mergi D, Villet, Martin H
- Subject
- To be catalogued
- Date
- 2022
- Type
- text
- Type
- article
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440761
- Identifier
- vital:73810
- Identifier
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111889
- Description
- Blowfly larvae are the insects primarily responsible for the active stage of decomposition of exposed vertebrate remains and are the most frequently collected entomological evidence during forensic investigations of death. The necrophagous calliphorids in continental Africa that consistently develop on large vertebrate carrion include 11 species belonging to four genera: Calliphora, Chrysomya, Hemipyrellia and Lucilia. Most of these species are widespread in Africa and frequently reported on large animal carcasses and carrion and human corpses. A few keys have been compiled for identification of their third instar larvae, but none of them covers the complete set of taxa. Therefore, we provide a new comprehensive key with original illustrations of all taxonomically significant characters. The key is based on characters that should be easily observable even in poorly equipped local laboratories and is a reliable taxonomic tool for material collected in either urban or rural areas where synanthropic species predominate. However, it should be used with some caution in areas with relatively pristine natural habitats, where additional carrion-breeding species may occur. The publication of the key will significantly facilitate both medical and forensic entomological research and practice in Africa.
- Format
- 9 pages, pdf
- Language
- English
- Relation
- Forensic Science International, Szpila, K., Williams, K., Soszyńska, A., Ekanem, M., Heyns, M., Dinka, M.D. and Villet, M., 2024. Key for the identification of third instar larvae of African blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic importance in death investigations. Forensic Science International, 354, p.111889, Forensic Science International volume 354 number 1 1 9 2024 0379-0738
- Rights
- Publisher
- Rights
- Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Elsevier Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.elsevier.com/legal/elsevier-website-terms-and-conditions)
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Villet, Martin Herrer (Prof)
SDG 15. Life On Land
RU Department of Zoology and Entomology
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details | SOURCE1 | Key for the identification of third instar larvae of African blowflies (Diptera.pdf | 17 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details |