Developmental Stages of Hypopygiopsis violacea (Family: Calliphoridae), a Forensically Important Blowfly on Rat Carcass

Abstract

A study on blowfly developmental stages to estimate the time of death (TOD) of small mammal had been conducted during a rainy season. During this study, fresh Muller’s rat (Sundamys muelleri) carcasses were used as the host sample, and the developmental duration of every larval stage, decomposition stages of host animal, ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded. Hypopygiopsis violacea (Family: Calliphoridae) was recorded to be the first blowfly visiting and ovipositing on the carcass after the carcass being deposited, while Chrysomya megacephala and C. ruffacies were recorded as the most dominant calliphorids present during the decomposition process. This study estimated that the time for calliphorids to complete their life cycle, from an egg to an adult was approximately twenty-three days, and the decomposition of Sundamys muelleri took about nine days. Useful information on succession and rate of development of blowfly could enhance the knowledge of the length of time elapsed since death in particular host animal.