Forensic Entomology utilises arthropods in legal investigations that involve death, neglect and abuse of humans and animals and even civil cases like insurance claims. This study aimed to make general observations on the decomposition of a pig carcass (Sus scofa Linneaus) in relation to recorded temperatures of the carcass and the surrounding site during both summer and winter on the Gauteng Highveld. The study also aimed to identify the dominant blowfly species occurring in the region. Six species were identified: Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya marginalis, Ch. albiceps, Ch. chloropyga, Lucilia sericata and L. cuprina. The cephaloskeleton, anal spiracles and anterior spiracles were dissected from the first, second and third larval instars of the flies to isolate the key features currently used in morphological identifications. The ITS2 region was investigated for the development of a multiplex PCR method to identify these species. The multiplex PCR method did not include Chrysomya albiceps but does successfully differentiate between the other five commonly occurring blowflies.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Zoology, 2002. / Typescript (photocopy). Cover title : 'The Ecology of inerterate associations with vertebrate carrion in Victoria, with reference to forensic entomology' Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-172).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2008. / Title from title screen (site viewed Jan. 13, 2009). PDF text: vi, 62 p. : ill. ; 2 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3315321. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Forensic entomology is an emergjng field in South Africa. Little is known about South African blowflies and factors that affect their use in a forensic context. This work provides a review and synthesis of previous work in South Africa and supplements some of the background and basic knowledge required for forensic entomology in South Africa. The seasonal occurrence of eight forensicaIIy important blowfly species was quantified by fortnightly trapping in Grahamstown, South Africa. The spatial distribution of each species was related to seasonal occurrence and habitat preference. Seasonal distributions of blowflies in carcasses in South Africa were obtained from the literature and compared to the seasonal trapping. By mapping South African locality records of forensicaIIy important blowflies and analyzing these records in a modified Principal Components Analysis of climatic data, the potential geographic distributions of each fly species was modeIIed. Most species were widespread, but Calliphora croceipalpis, Jaennicke, 1867, was found in cold places. This information is important for determining where certain species are likely to occur in forensic investigations. Nocturnal oviposition was examined in both field and laboratory experiments. Lucilia species could oviposit nocturnaIIy in the field, while Lucilia species, Chrysomya chloropyga, (Weidemann, 1818) and C. putoria (Weidemann, 1830) could oviposit nocturnaIIy in the laboratory. These findings are important factors in affecting the precision of estimates of a post mortem interval (PM!) by up to 12 hours. The thermophysiological ranges of four species of adult blowflies were determined by measuring onset temperatures of four significant behaviours: onset of neural activity; onset of coordinated movement; shade-seeking and death. There was a sexual size dimorphism in Lucilia species, Chrysomya chloropyga and Calliphora croceipalpis with females being larger than males. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) had an unexpectedly high death threshold, while Calliphora croceipalpis had the lowest death threshold of the flies tested. These points were related to the seasonal and geographic occurrence of each species, to nocturnal activity and placed in a forensic context.

Forensic entomology is a well-established science linking arthropod biology and ecology to legal investigations. Specifically, immature development on a decomposing corpse may give insight into the minimum time elapsed since death. Until recently, biological variation within a single species has been overlooked when estimating colonization events. Variation in the form of phenotypic plasticity, or the ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes under alternative stresses, has been documented in genetic and ecological literature and spans across all phyla. Taking this into account, different subpopulations of forensically pertinent insect species should also possess the ability to adapt to changing environments as geographic distribution increases. Thus, plastic responses of a species to alternative stresses may be measured in biological parameters, such as development time. In this research, three geographically distinct strains of the blow fly Cochliomyia macellaria Fabricius (Diptera Calliphoridae) were reared in two distinct environments in order to measure development time, as well as pupal and adult masses. Strains exhibited genetic variance when compared to each other, and each strain exhibited variable responses across environments (phenotypic plasticity). Plasticity in the form of genotype by environment (GxE) interactions was also exhibited by C. macellaria, although consistent adherence to any single rule explaining ontogenetic trends was not apparent. This research supports the existence of intraspecific variation in a common blow fly of forensic importance. Results of this study will impact the forensic entomology community by encouraging the generation of either strain;specific developmental datasets or statistical models to minimize variation caused by genetic, environment, or GxE effects in order to compare developmental data across strains.

From the entomological evidence occurring on and around a corpse it is possible to determine an estimated post-mortem interval (PMI). The critical step in this examination is the accurate identification of specimens collected ensuring the application of appropriate species-specific developmental data. Current molecular techniques in the identification of forensically important Calliphoridae species from the Australian region have been explored and found to be a highly significant and valuable area of research. The cytochrome oxidase genes in the mitochondrial genome have been shown to have sufficient sequence diversity to distinguish forensically relevant Calliphoridae species. In order to target the observed sequence diversity within relevant regions of the nuclear or mitochondrial genomes, sequence specific primer (SSP) pairs are used to target polymorphisms, resulting in the amplification of specific species. This technique has proven to be both a rapid and successful identification tool in the analysis of insect taxa, especially Culicidae. SSP typing is particularly useful, as it requires no subsequent sequencing or restriction with enzymes, both of which require additional time and reagents. The aim of this research was to develop a multiplex SSP reaction for the identification of forensically important Calliphoridae species. Seven SSP pairs preliminarily designed by Harvey (2006) were utilised in the identification of Calliphora dubia, Calliphora albifrontalis, Chrysomya rufifacies, Chrysomya megacephala and Lucilia sericata. Once optimised the SSP pairs were developed into two multiplex PCR reactions. This thesis presents the experiments performed, analysis conducted and results obtained through the development of the multiplex SSP-PCR system. Initial testing of the seven preliminarily designed SSP pairs conveyed non-concordance between expected and observed results. Additional species were continually amplified, even after extensive optimisation attempts, including alternations to annealing temperature, MgCl2 and primer concentration. Of the 7 SSP pairs, 6 were re-designed to improve specificity, whilst one was removed from further testing and replaced with 2 newly designed primer pairs. 15 Continual testing of 8 SSP pairs was conducted, but only 6 could be successfully optimised. Optimisation was limited to alterations to annealing temperature, to allow for potential multiplexing. To confirm the regions and species amplified, sequencing of the PCR products was performed. Though only partial sequences were obtained for most samples the alignment shows the expected region amplified with specific species variations. Using the remaining 6 SSP pairs all species tested were identifiable, allowing for multiplexing potential to be tested. Multiplex PCR is a cost effective and efficient technique that is becoming increasing popular within a wide range of scientific disciplines. To date there has been no recorded use of this technique in relation to either forensic entomology or the analysis of forensically important Calliphoridae species. The 6 SSP pairs were manipulated to produce one successful multiplex PCR system using 3 SSP pairs to identify L. sericata, Ch. rufifacies and Ch. megacephala, and one unsuccessful multiplex PCR that amplified a single SSP pair for the identification of C. dubia and Ch. rufifacies. When both reactions are utilised, it is possible to identify all 5 forensically important Calliphoridae species tested.

Assessing time of death is a notoriously difficult, yet critical component of coronial death investigations. Forensic entomoloy can provide reliable death time estimates using knowledge of local carrion insect species ecology and larval development times. However, inadequate data are available for Victoria, and thus forensic entomology techniques cannot be fully exploited in this jurisdiction. This study aimed to provide data that will enable a basic forensic entomology service to be provided in Victoria, as well as initiate further development of forensic entomology in this state. There are few quantitative data available on the carcass colonisation patterns of blowflies and flesh flies, however these data are forensically valuable. Colonising maggots form feeding masses that generate heat, and therefore speed the growth of their members. This should be integrated into larval age estimates, however there is little knowledge of the factors controlling mass size and persistence. Additionally, it is important to understand more clearly the behaviour of larvi- and ovipositing female flies since qualitative assessments of abnormal colonisation patterns may be used to indicate pre-mortem trauma to a body.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Zoology & Entomology)) - Rhodes University, 2008.

Thesis (M.For.Sc./Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2006.

Thesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Entomology, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Aug. 4, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-65). Also issued in print.