Key for the identification of third instars of european blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic importance

Abstract

In Europe larvae of blowflies are the main group of insects responsible for decomposition of exposed vertebrate remains, including the human body. This determines their high forensic importance and frequent application for estimation of PMI. The importance of proper identification of insects collected in forensic cases and experiments to the species level is underlined by all manuals of forensic entomology (e.g. Smith 1986; Byrd and Castner 2001; Greenberg and Kunich 2002). Especially difficult is the identification of the larval stages, where breeding to the adult stage or DNA-based methods are recommended. Fortunately, the available knowledge of the morphology of third instars of Calliphoridae is sufficiently good to allow the preparation of a complete identification key for at least all European species of forensic importance. Eleven species are included in the key. Most of them are widespread through Europe (Rognes 2004) and have been frequently reported from both real cases and carrion experiments, and the necessity of their inclusion into the key cannot be questioned. There are: Calliphora vicina, C. vomitoria, Chrysomya albiceps, Phormia regina, Protophormia terraenovae, Lucilia caesar, L. illustris, L. sericata. The author has also decided to add three additional species to the key: Cynomya mortuorum, Chrysomya megacephala, and Lucilia ampullacea. Recently, the larvae of Cynomya mortuorum were recorded from human corpses at least twice (Stærkeby 2001; Benecke 2002). Smith (1986) points out this species as rather a late newcomer in comparison to other blowflies, but recent research on succession shows that in spring conditions Cynomya mortuorum may be among the first colonizers of pig carrion (Szpila et al. 2008).