NCJ Number
232898
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2010 Pages: 1603-1606
Date Published
November 2010
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The authors of this study identified and cataloged the blowfly species associated with a pig carcass.
Abstract
Although the Cerrado is the second major Brazilian biome, few studies have been undertaken about its entomofauna. Blowflies have an important role in forensic entomology, helping in the determination of postmortem intervals. The main goal of this exploratory study was to identify and to catalog the blowfly species associated with a pig carcass. The study was conducted in a pasture in Brasilia, Distrito Federal. A pig (Sus scrofa) was killed with a .22 caliber shot in the frontal region of the head. Adult blowflies were surveyed daily from June 1 through 30, 2004. A total of 14,910 adult calliphorids were collected, representing eight species: Chrysomya albiceps, C. megacephala, Cochliomyia macellaria, Chloroprocta idioidea, Hemilucilia semidiaphana, H. segmentaria, Lucilia cuprina, and L. eximia. C. albiceps was the most frequent species, amounting to 94.76 percent of the catch. Five decomposition stages were observed, and for calliphorids, the most attractive stage was the bloated one. (Published Abstract)