Provider: Ingenta Connect Database: Ingenta Connect Content: application/x-research-info-systems TY - ABST AU - Gallagher, Meagan B. AU - Sandhu, Sonia AU - Kimsey, Robert TI - Variation in Developmental Time for Geographically Distinct Populations of the Common Green Bottle Fly, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) JO - Journal of Forensic Sciences PY - 2010-03-01T00:00:00/// VL - 55 IS - 2 SP - 438 EP - 442 KW - Lucilia sericata KW - forensic entomology KW - Calliphoridae KW - forensic science KW - larvae KW - postmortem interval KW - blow fly development N2 - Abstract: 

Time between death and discovery of remains, or postmortem interval (PMI), can be assessed using blow fly maggot age. Forensic entomologists rely on published, often nonlocal, species-specific developmental tables to determine maggot age. In a series of common garden experiments, we investigated the developmental rate variation between populations of Lucilia sericata collected from Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, and Easton, MA at 16°C, 26°C, and 36°C. For the 16°C trial the time measurement started at egg hatch, while for the higher temperatures the experiment began at oviposition; the wandering stage signified the endpoint for all experiments. The distribution of developmental times differed significantly (ANOVA, p < 0.001) between the three populations within each temperature treatment. We discovered that regional variation of developmental times within a blow fly species exists. This study demonstrates the importance of assembling local population-specific developmental tables when estimating larval age to determine PMI. UR - M3 - doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01285.x UR - ER -