A primary goal of the forensic anthropologist is assisting in the estimation of a post-mortem interval. This assessment is largely based upon the degree and quality of soft tissue decomposition, influenced by factors including temperature, humidity, insect activity, carnivore and rodent activity, perimortem trauma and the depositional environment. While the effects of temperature on decomposition have been long appreciated and initially studied, little or no research has been conducted on the disruption of insect activity and how that disturbance may affect the decomposition process. This study was designed to determine if the exposure of skin surface of porcine remains to insect repellant (specifically, DEET) has an effect on the presence and overall activity of insects during decomposition. Two experiments were conducted in the spring and fall with results indicating that insect repellant slows the rate of decomposition. Such findings are important for criminal investigators requiring an accurate estimation of post-mortem time to appreciate those factors that may adversely affect the process and rate of soft tissue deterioration.

Thesis (M.S.F.S.) PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / This thesis looks at and analyzes the current body of research into the early-stage formation of adipocere as it pertains to post-mortem interval determination. Adipocere is a waxlike substance that can encase bodies after death if certain conditions are met: temperature, moisture content, other environmental factors, and the presence of bacteria that transform fatty acids into the hydroxy- and oxy-fatty acids that make up much of the adipocere substance. Adipocere formation arrests the process of decomposition, making it difficult for forensic pathologists to determine a post-mortem interval. The thesis identifies several issues with current research into early-stage adipocere. Firstly, the majority of scientific papers on the subject make use of pig adipose as a stand-in for human adipose due to ethical concerns. However, this traditional forensic method is not suited for studies into adipocere formation: the fatty acid profiles of pigs and humans have differing ratios of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, making them an unreliable analog for adipocere testing. In addition, most studies assume a three-month timeframe for the formation process when preparing their experimental design, a timeframe thrown into question by both current data and several existing case studies demonstrating more rapid adipocere formation. Lastly, testing takes place in static environments, which does not reflect actual field conditions. There have been cases that suggest adipocere formation ceases during colder months once decomposition has initially halted. In these cases, the adipocere formation begins again once temperatures return to 22°C or higher. Another issue noted is the lack of chemical analysis conducted on early-formation adipocere. The changes in fatty acid ratios that take place during the process are not typically looked at by scientists investigating the phenomenon or forensic pathologists dealing with adipocere cases, but may offer a viable means of narrowing down post-mortem intervals and contribute to better timelines for pathologists and law enforcement. This thesis ultimately recommends a number of additional research directions necessary for building a temperature zone-based database of case and laboratory results, particularly ones that take into account the variable formation timeframe observed in previous experiments and case studies. / 2031-01-01

<p>Forensic science has gained popularity in the last few decades. Many new techniques are being studied and implemented. It includes a wide range of scientific disciplines, such as entomology, physics and biology. An important improvement to forensic science is the development of different DNA techniques which are implemented during an investigation, making DNA a gold standard for forensics. Most of the time DNA is mentioned it is in terms of human DNA, but there are microscopic organisms with useful DNA. In the last decade, with the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS), studies focusing on bacterial communities have been published, but fungal communities have not been extensively studied.</p> For this project, the potential of fungi in forensic science was investigated through three different studies. Human flora was looked at by NGS from thirty-seven human bodies with differing post-mortem intervals (PMIs). The communities were analyzed statistically and quantitatively, resulting in unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and genera which were only present in certain PMIs, and in some which were present through the entire PMI time scale. These attributes can help, not only to give a better view on human mycoflora during decomposition, but they can also help in determining fungal signatures during decomposition. These signatures can help in a PMI determination. Moreover, swine carcasses – the model animals for human forensic studies – were investigated as well to create a checklist of fungal flora after five months of winter decomposition in the West Lafayette, Indiana area. Furthermore, due to the increased importance of wildlife forensics, a wildlife study was also conducted using four wildlife species (mute swan, red tailed hawk, river otter, bobcat). The fungal flora from these species were compared within species at the beginning of the study and at skeletonization stage to look at any indicator fungal species and to create a general checklist for wildlife studies in the West Lafayette, Indiana area for future studies. Additionally, the fungal communities were compared across species as well.

The question of post-mortem interval (PMI) or time since death is often the most sought after piece of information associated with a medical death investigation. Based on the observation that DNA degradation disproportionately affects the analysis of larger genetic loci, it was proposed that DNA degradation, as a result of autolysis or putrefaction, could prove suitable as a potential rate-of-change indicator of PMI. Nine randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis primers and three sets of directed amplification primers were evaluated to determine their suitability for use in assessing the degree of DNA fragmentation in tissue samples. They were assessed for amplicon specificity, total DNA target sensitivity, allele monomorphism and the observance of degradation-based profile changes. Markers meeting the requisite criteria were then used to assess a range samples degraded under controlled and uncontrolled conditions. Tissue samples collected from seven domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) were incubated under controlled laboratory or uncontrolled field conditions to produce samples simulating those potentially collected in a forensic case. DNA samples isolated from these specimens were then analyzed at those loci which had been determined to meet the requisite criteria. Collectively, data generated from these analyses indicate that genetic profiles generated by this approach can provide information useful for estimating the post-mortem interval, with the locus and amplicons used being most useful during the first 72 hours after death.

High Performance Liguid Chromatography was used to measure degradation of nucleotides in human cadavers for the purpose of prediction of post mortem interval. Endogenous nucleotides were extracted from integumentary tissue of six(6) human cadavers using six percent(6%) tricholoacetic acid. Linear regression statistical techniques were used to determine linearity of degradation of various nucleotide pools.

No description available.

Orientador: Aricio Xavier Linhares / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituo de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T15:49:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Souza_CarinaMarade_M.pdf: 1457552 bytes, checksum: 6cd38fc74da441a111a04348ee418d6d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Devido ao aumento no número de mortes relacionadas ao abuso de drogas, o conhecimento da interferência destas substâncias sobre o desenvolvimento de certas espécies de insetos necrófagos torna-se de grande importância, especialmente quando a estimativa do intervalo pós-morte (IPM) usa como base a idade do inseto. Além disso, esta metodologia é uma valiosa alternativa para determinar a causa da morte, quando o corpo encontra-se em avançado estágio de decomposição. Assim, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito de diferentes concentrações de esteróides anabólico-androgênicos (EAA), comumente usados para aumento da massa muscular, sobre a taxa de desenvolvimento de Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann), C. albiceps (Wiedemann) e C. megaacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Dois delineamentos experimentais foram feitos: um somente com a substância decanoato de nandrolona (Deca-Durabolin®) e outro associando decanoato aos ésteres de testosterona (Durateston®). Imaturos obtidos de colônias de moscas adultas estabelecidas em laboratório foram depositados em potes plásticos contendo dieta artificial para montagem dos grupos experimentais, sem (grupo controle) e com adição de esteróides. Cada tratamento foi repetido seis vezes. O ganho de massa foi registrado para grupos de 10 larvas, em intervalos de 12 h, até que atingissem o estágio de pupa. Além disso, foram medidos a viabilidade larval, a taxa e o intervalo de emergência. ANOVA de um critério e teste de comparações múltiplas de Duncan foram feitos para comparar o efeito dos EAA, associados ou não em diferentes e crescentes concentrações, sobre o desenvolvimento larval usando o ganho de massa como variável resposta. Diferenças significativas não foram observadas quanto ao tempo de desenvolvimento e intervalo de emergência para todas espécies tratadas, mas houve nítida heterogeneidade quanto às curvas de desenvolvimento, quando associados os dois EAA para C. putoria e C. albiceps. A viabilidade larval e a emergência de C. putoria foram significativamente afetadas pela associação de EAA, com valores inferiores aos apresentados pelo controle. Frente ao decanoato, C. putoria apresentou inicialmente maior ganho de massa, contudo, em idades mais avançadas, os imaturos expostos à droga obtiveram menor média de massa corpórea que o controle. Para C. albiceps a maior concentração de decanoato afetou negativamente o ganho de massa durante todo o desenvolvimento larval. A análise do ganho de massa, por hora, indicou diferenças significativas no período compreendido entre 36 e 84 h entre grupos controle e com adição de EAA associados, o que levaria a erro no cálculo do IPM, se esta condição não fosse considerada. / Abstract: Due to increase of deaths related to drug abuse, the knowledge of the interference of these substances on the development of certain necrophagous insects species can be very important, especially when the estimative of the postmortem interval (PMI) is based on insect age. Furthermore, they are valuable alternatives to determine the cause of death, when the body is in an advanced stage of decomposition. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), commonly used to increase muscle mass, on the developmental rate of Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann), C. albiceps (Wiedemann) and C. megaacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Two experimental designs were made: one only with nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin®) and another with decanoate associated to ester of testosterone (Durateston®). Immatures obtained from adult flies colonies established in lab were placed in plastic vials containing an artificial rearing diet for assembly of experimental groups, without (control group) and with addition of steroids. Each treatment was replicated six times. The mass gain was recorded for groups of 10 larvae at 12h-intervals until they reached the pupal stage. In addition, we measured the larval viability, the rate and interval of emergency. ANOVA one way and Duncan's multiple comparison test were made to compare the effect of the EAA, associated or not in different and increased concentrations on the developmental larval using the mass gain as dependent variable. Significant differences were observed regarding the developmental time and interval of emergency for all threatened species, but there was a clear heterogeneity on the developmental curves for C. putoria and C. albiceps by the EAA association. The larval viability and the emergence rates of C. putoria were significantly affected by the EAA association, with rates lower than control group. Initially, C. putoria rearing in decanoate showed greater weight gain, however, at older ages, immatures obtained a lower average weight than control. For C. albiceps the highest concentration of decanoate negatively affected mass gain during the larval development. The mass gain analysis, per hour, indicated significant differences from 36 to 84 h between control and EAA groups, which could lead to incorrect estimation of the PMI, if this condition was not considered. / Mestrado / Mestre em Parasitologia

Orientador: Aricio Xavier Linhares / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T18:18:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Soto_DoraAmparoEstrada_D.pdf: 2535722 bytes, checksum: 550a33ae626a5a9a30ff32773e785904 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: A Entomologia Forense utiliza dados de desenvolvimento e aspectos ecológicos de insetos necrófagos com o objetivo de auxiliar as investigações criminais, entre outros, no cálculo da estimativa do intervalo pós-morte (IPM). Igualmente, pode-se caracterizar a causa da morte quando essas drogas são detectadas em insetos imaturos que se alimentam dos corpos em decomposição. Além disso, os insetos podem servir como uma ferramenta alternativa para análises toxicológicas na ausência de tecidos e fluídos coletados habitualmente para este fim. Trabalhos recentes têm demonstrado que a presença de drogas ou toxinas em tecidos em decomposição pode alterar a taxa de desenvolvimento de insetos que usam este recurso como fonte alimentar. A ausência de conhecimentos dos possíveis interferentes no ciclo biológico pode gerar dados imprecisos sobre a idade do inseto, o que prejudicaria a estimativa do IPM. O ramo da Entomologia Forense que estuda os aspectos acima mencionados é denominado Entomotoxicologia. Rotineiramente, é necessário fazer testes preliminares em laboratório com dieta artificial e com certas substâncias para criar um banco de dados que possa ser útil como um padrão para investigar e quantificar as modificações que podem ocorrer com insetos coletados numa cena criminal. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi observar o efeito dos barbitúricos, fenobarbital (Gardenal®) e tiopental (Thiopentax®) em diferentes dosagens no desenvolvimento de imaturos de três espécies de califorídeos ¿ Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) e Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann) (Diptera). Foi observado que os dois barbitúricos afetaram significativamente o desenvolvimento larval das três espécies, sendo que na maior dosagem a taxa de mortalidade foi elevada e na menor, o desenvolvimento retardou em até duas vezes, quando comparado ao grupo controle (sem adição de substância química). O conhecimento da ação destes barbitúricos no desenvolvimento dos imaturos dessas espécies de interesse forense pode contribuir para evitar erros no cálculo da estimativa do IPM. Também foi avaliada a taxa de desenvolvimento de Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) e Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera) criadas em diferentes dietas artificiais contendo tecidos de origem animal e comparadas a uma dieta já descrita em literatura, a qual não contém tecido animal, e a um grupo controle, onde foi usada somente a carne moída. A eficiência de cada dieta foi observada levando em conta o ganho de massa dos imaturos, o tempo de desenvolvimento larval, a taxa de sobrevivência de pupas e adultos, o intervalo de emergência e o tamanho dos adultos. Assim, foi proposta uma nova dieta artificial proporcionando uma melhor uniformidade para a adição de drogas e sobrevivência das espécies estudadas, tornando mais eficiente a criação e os testes biológicos com os dípteros necrófagos em laboratório / Abstract: The Forensic entomology utilizes developmental data and ecological aspects of necrophagic insects with the aim of helping criminal investigations, being able to, for instance, estimate the post mortem interval (PMI). Likewise, the death cause may be detected when these drugs are detected in immature insects from the same substrate. Besides, the insects can work as an alternative tool for toxicological analyses in the absence of tissues and fluids usually collected for this purpose. Recent investigations have been demonstrating that the presence of drugs or toxins in decomposing tissues may alter the development rate of insects that use such resource as a food substrate. The non-observance of this knowledge may lead to imprecise conclusions on the insect age, producing mistakes on the PMI estimative. This field of forensic entomology is named entomotoxicology. On routine basis, laboratory preliminary tests using artificial diet and certain substances are necessary to create a data bank that could be useful as a pattern to investigate and quantify the modifications that may occur with insects collected from death scenes. The present study aimed to verify the effect of the barbiturics phenobarbital (Gardenal®) and thiopental (Thiopentax®) in three concentrations, in the development of immatures of three Calliphoridae species ¿ Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) and Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann) (Diptera). The barbiturics significantly affected the larval development of the three species, when the highest mortality rate occurred with the highest concentrations, and in the other concentrations the development retarded twice as much compared to the control group (without chemic substance). The knowledge on the action of these barbiturics in the immature development of these species of forensic interest can contribute to minimize the errors in the estimative of the PMI. A comparison of the developmental rate of the blowflies Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), and Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera) reared on: a) artificial diets containing animal tissues; b) artificial diet without animal tissue; and c) a control group (which contained only meat) was thus carried out. The efficiency of each diet was evaluated by observing the gain of immatures¿ weight, larvae developmental time, viability percentage obtained from pupae and adults, emergence interval and adult size. To make the rearing and biological tests with the necrophagic dipterans in laboratory more efficient, a new artificial diet was proposed, leading to a better uniformity and increased survivorship of the species studied. / Doutorado / Parasitologia / Doutor em Parasitologia

Orientador: Arício Xavier Linhares / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T03:28:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Stoppa_LailaSilvaLeoneldeAvila_M.pdf: 2902278 bytes, checksum: 52b99920b1d3a2f1d669e4cff58d53fe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A entomologia forense utiliza principalmente dados de insetos necrófagos para estimar o intervalo pós-morte (IPM). A oviposição destes insetos pode ser influenciada por vários fatores, tais como se o corpo está envolto por algum material, se está enterrado, carbonizado, em ambiente aberto ou fechado, podendo assim alterar o cálculo do IPM. O propósito deste trabalho foi estudar as diferenças na exposição de carcaças abrigadas e desabrigadas, no processo de decomposição, na atratividade e oviposição pelos artrópodes e na sucessão entomológica. A influência do modo de exposição das carcaças em relação à abundância das espécies que as coloniza também foi reportado. Os experimentos foram realizados em duas estações do ano, quente e úmida e na seca e fria. Foram utilizadas três carcaças de suínos (Sus scrofa L.), fêmeas de aproximadamente 10kg, em cada estação. A fim de se evitar a predação por animais de grande porte, as carcaças foram colocadas em gaiolas de ferro e expostas em um arboreto, nas dependências da UNICAMP, situado entre os paralelos 22°48'57"S, 47°03'33"W, 640 metros de altitude. Uma carcaça ficou desabrigada (controle) e as outras duas (réplicas) dentro de barracas de camping de dimensões 2,05m x 1,45m x 1,00m, abrigadas, uma na sombra e outra no sol. Os insetos adultos alados foram coletados com puçá e os imaturos direto da bandeja de cada carcaça, todos os dias no mesmo horário. Amostras de solo também foram coletadas no local do experimento ao redor de cada carçaca. Foi obtido um total de 37.787 espécimes pertencentes ao Filo Arthropoda, distribuídos em 11 diferentes ordens, sendo que desse total 8.842 foram coletados e 28.945 foram criados, ou seja, os imaturos foram levados ao laboratório e mantidos em câmaras de criação (±26°C) até sua emergência. Dos coletados, 92,2% pertencem à ordem Diptera, onde se destacaram as famílias Calliphoridae (28,7%) e Muscidae (34,6%). Outras ordens coletadas foram Coleoptera (4,5%), Hymenoptera (1,9%), Lepidoptera (0,5%) e Hemiptera (0,3%). Foram coletados menos de 1% de artrópodes ocasionais pertencentes às ordens Blattodea, Mantodea e Neuroptera, além de Acari, Opiliones e Araneae. Dos criados, 99,8% pertenciam a ordem Diptera onde se destacaram as famílias Calliphoridae (93,2%) e Muscidae (5,4%). A ordem Coleoptera foi responsável por 0,2% restantes. Considerando-se diferentes tipos de exposição, observou-se diferença no tempo de decomposição, modo e duração de cada estágio entre as carcaças, sendo que na carcaça controle a decomposição foi muito mais rápida e obteve maior abundância de artrópodes que nas carcaças abrigadas, embora a composição de espécies ter sido similar em todas elas. Fatores abióticos exerceram influência retardando ou acelerando a atividade dos insetos necrófagos nas carcaças. Chrysomya albiceps foi à espécie mais abundante e juntamente com Hemilucilia segmentaria e Peckia (Euboetcheria) collusor podem ser considerados indicadores forenses para estimativa de IPM, enquanto Hemilucilia segmentaria e Hemilucilia semidiaphana podem ser usadas como indicador forense para região de mata, modo de exposição e estação fria e seca. Tais resultados demonstram a importância da utilização da entomologia forense como ferramenta nas investigações legais / Abstract: Forensic Entomology uses data, mainly from carrion insects, to estimate the Post Mortem Interval (PMI). The oviposition pattern of these insects can be influenced by several factors, such as the presence of materials in the vicinity of the body, whether the corpses are buried, burned or disposed in open or closed environments, etc. These factors can affect the PMI estimate. The purpose of this work was to study the differences in decomposition, attractiveness and oviposition patterns between carcasses exposed in sheltered and open environments. The influence of the mode of exposure in relation to the abundance of the species that colonized were also been studied. The experiments were conducted in two seasons: warm and wet (summer), and dry and cool (winter). Three carcasses of female pigs (Sus scrofa L.), weighing aproximatelly 10 kg were used per season. The carcasses were placed in iron cages in order to avoid predation by large animals, and exposed in an arboretum located on the State University of Campinas campus, (22 ° 48'57 "S 47 ° 03'33" W), at 640 m above sea level. One pig was placed in and unsheltered area (control) and the other two were exposed inside camping tents measuring 2,05 m x 1,45 m x 1,00 m. One tent was set in a shaded area and the other one was places under direct sunlight. Adult insects visiting the carcasses were collected with an insect net. The immatures leaving the carcasses to pupate were collected in trays placed beneath each carcass, taken to the laboratory, reared at 26 °C in growth chambers until adult emergence, and identified. Soil samples were also collected at the site of the experiment around each carcass. A total of 37.787 specimens of Arthropoda was obtanined, distributed in 11 different orders. Of this total, 8.842 were collected and 28.945 were reared from the collected larvae. Diptera totaled 92.2% of the adults collected (Calliphoridae-28.7% and Muscidae-34.6%). The other collected orders were: Coleoptera (4.5%), Hymenoptera (1.9%), Lepidoptera (0.5%) and Hemiptera (0.3%). Les than 1% of occasional arthropods belonging to the orders Blattodea, Mantodea and Neuroptera, and Acari, Opiliones and Araneae were also collected. More than 99% of the reared insects belonged to the order Diptera, Calliphoridae (93.2%) and Muscidae (5.4%) were the most abundant families. The order Coleoptera accounted for the remaining 0.2%. Considering the different types of exposure, there was a difference in the decomposition time, mode and duration of each decomposition stage of the carcasses. The decomposition process in the control carcasses was much faster and had greater abundance of arthropods in the sheltered carcasses, but species composition was similar. Abiotic factors exerted influence by delaying or accelerating the activity of insects in the carcasses. Chrysomya albiceps was the most abundant species and, together with Hemilucilia segmentaria and Peckia (Euboetcheria) collusor can be considered important indicators in the estimation of PMI, while Hemilucilia semidiaphana and Hemilucilia segmentaria can be also used as indicators for wooded areas, mode of exposure and season. These results evidence the importance of using forensic entomology as a tool in legal investigations / Mestrado / Parasitologia / Mestre em Parasitologia

Orientador: Patricia Jacqueline Thyssen / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T11:10:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alonso_MarcelaAquiyama_M.pdf: 1564049 bytes, checksum: 75bec9069782a8cb90070bdbf5ad0c93 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: Os insetos constituem o grupo mais diversificado e abundante do Reino Animal, com ampla diversidade morfológica, fisiológica e de hábitos alimentares e por isso podem ser encontrados em vários habitats e ecossistemas. Insetos necrófagos podem ser vestígios e fontes de informações de interesse forense, como para a estimativa do intervalo pós-morte (IPM), baseada, por exemplo, na idade dos imaturos que se criam em corpos em decomposição. O desenvolvimento desses insetos pode ser afetado pela variação de temperatura e presença de substâncias tóxicas nos tecidos de um cadáver, entre outros fatores. Chrysomya megacephala (F.) e Chrysomya putoria (W.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), introduzidas no Brasil, são consideradas de importância forense, médico e veterinária, devido aos seus comportamentos sinantrópicos e necrófagos. No presente estudo foi avaliado o tempo de desenvolvimento de imaturos na fase embrionária e pós-embrionária de C. megacephala e C. putoria sob diferentes temperaturas e / ou presença de cloridrato de fluoxetina, um antidepressivo, em fígado de coelho, o substrato alimentar. A relação entre temperatura e desenvolvimento, na fase embrionária, foi similar entre ambas as espécies. O tempo de desenvolvimento dos ovos para C. megacephala variou aproximadamente de 64-7h a 13 e 35 °C, respectivamente, e para C. putoria de 69-8h a 13 e 35 °C, respectivamente. Houve eclosão de larvas a 13 °C, mas as mesmas não completaram o desenvolvimento. A temperatura e o cloreto de fluoxetina afetaram o desenvolvimento dos imaturos, na fase na pós-embrionária. Para ambas as espécies, as larvas do grupo controle completaram seu desenvolvimento 24h mais rápido que o grupo com fluoxetina a 17 °C, mas apresentaram o desenvolvimento 12h mais lento a 35 °C. Estudos considerando tempo real de desenvolvimento dos ovos e avaliando como a combinação de duas ou mais variáveis podem influenciar o desenvolvimento de insetos de interesse forense são de grande valia para aumentar a acurácia da estimativa do IPM / Abstract: Insects are the most diverse and abundant group of the Animal Kingdom, with great diversity of morphological, physiological and feeding habits and are found in nearly all habitats and ecosystems. Scavengers species can provide important information of forensic interest, as the post-mortem interval (PMI) estimate, based on, e.g., the age of the larvae reared in decomposing bodies. The development of these insects can be affected by temperature oscillation and presence of toxic substances, among other factors, on the rearing media. Chrysomya megacephala (F.) and Chrysomya putoria (W.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), introduced in Brazil, are considered of forensic, medical and veterinary importance, due to their necrophagous and synanthropic behaviour. This study evaluated the developmental time of C. megacephala and C. putoria under different temperatures and / or with fluoxetine hydrochloride, an antidepressant drug, in rabbit liver, the rearing substrate. The relationship between temperature and development, on the embryonic phase, was similar for both species. Egg developmental time for C. megacephala was approximately of 64-7h at 13 and 35 °C, respectively, and for C. putoria was 69-8h at 13 and 35 °C, respectively. The larval hatching occurred at 13 °C, but, at this temperature, the larval development was not completed. Both temperature and fluoxetine hydrochloride, when present, affected the development of the larvae. For both species, the larvae of control group completed their development 24h faster than the fluoxetine hydrochloride group at 17 °C, but the development was 12h slower at 35 °C. Studies considering real egg developmental time and evaluating, simultaneously, the insects' response for two or more variables that might influence their development are of great value to increase the accuracy of PMI estimate / Mestrado / Relações Antrópicas, Meio Ambiente e Parasitologia / Mestra em Biologia Animal