Identifying fly puparia by clearing technique: Application to forensic entomology

In forensic investigations, immature stages of the fly (egg, larva, or puparia) can be used as entomological evidence at death scenes, not only to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI), analyze toxic substances, and to determine the manner of death but also to indicate the movement of a corpse in h...

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Main Authors: Sukontason K.L., Ngern-Klun R., Sripakdee D., Sukontason K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2014
Online Access:http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-34548581163&partnerID=40&md5=cf23d14131c6b6b8b5a231596922a4c9
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17687570
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2137
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Institution: Chiang Mai University
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spelling th-cmuir.6653943832-21372014-08-30T02:00:31Z Identifying fly puparia by clearing technique: Application to forensic entomology Sukontason K.L. Ngern-Klun R. Sripakdee D. Sukontason K. In forensic investigations, immature stages of the fly (egg, larva, or puparia) can be used as entomological evidence at death scenes, not only to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI), analyze toxic substances, and to determine the manner of death but also to indicate the movement of a corpse in homicide cases. Of these immature stages, puparia represent the longest developmental time, which makes them of useful. However, in order for forensic entomologists to use puparia effectively, it is crucial that they are able to accurately identify the species of fly found in a corpse. Typically, these puparia are similar in general appearance, being coarctate and light brown to dark brown in color, which makes identification difficult. In this study, we report on the clearing technique used to pale the integument of fly puparia, thereby allowing observation of the anterior end (second to fourth segments) and the profile of the posterior spiracle, which are important clues for identification. We used puparia of the blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala (F.), as the model species in this experiment. With placement in a 20% potassium hydroxide solution daily and mounting on a clearing medium (Permount®, New Jersey), the profile of the posterior spiracle could be clearly examined under a light microscope beginning on the fifth day after pupation, and the number of papillae in the anterior spiracle could be counted easily starting from the ninth day. Comparison of morphological features of C. megacephala puparia with those of other blowflies (Chrysomya nigripes [Aubertin], Chrysomya rufifacies [Macquart], Chrysomya villeneuvi [Patton], Lucilia cuprina [Wiedemann], and Hemipyrellia ligurriens [Wiedemann]) and a housefly (Musca domestica L.) revealed that the anterior ends and the profiles of the posterior spiracles had markedly distinguishing characteristics. Morphometric analysis of the length and width of puparia, along with the length of the gaps between the posterior spiracles of seven fly species, displayed differences among them. This provides a key to identifying the puparia of these seven fly species. © 2007 Springer-Verlag. 2014-08-30T02:00:31Z 2014-08-30T02:00:31Z 2007 Article 09320113 10.1007/s00436-007-0660-2 17687570 PARRE http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-34548581163&partnerID=40&md5=cf23d14131c6b6b8b5a231596922a4c9 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17687570 http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2137 English
institution Chiang Mai University
building Chiang Mai University Library
country Thailand
collection CMU Intellectual Repository
language English
description In forensic investigations, immature stages of the fly (egg, larva, or puparia) can be used as entomological evidence at death scenes, not only to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI), analyze toxic substances, and to determine the manner of death but also to indicate the movement of a corpse in homicide cases. Of these immature stages, puparia represent the longest developmental time, which makes them of useful. However, in order for forensic entomologists to use puparia effectively, it is crucial that they are able to accurately identify the species of fly found in a corpse. Typically, these puparia are similar in general appearance, being coarctate and light brown to dark brown in color, which makes identification difficult. In this study, we report on the clearing technique used to pale the integument of fly puparia, thereby allowing observation of the anterior end (second to fourth segments) and the profile of the posterior spiracle, which are important clues for identification. We used puparia of the blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala (F.), as the model species in this experiment. With placement in a 20% potassium hydroxide solution daily and mounting on a clearing medium (Permount®, New Jersey), the profile of the posterior spiracle could be clearly examined under a light microscope beginning on the fifth day after pupation, and the number of papillae in the anterior spiracle could be counted easily starting from the ninth day. Comparison of morphological features of C. megacephala puparia with those of other blowflies (Chrysomya nigripes [Aubertin], Chrysomya rufifacies [Macquart], Chrysomya villeneuvi [Patton], Lucilia cuprina [Wiedemann], and Hemipyrellia ligurriens [Wiedemann]) and a housefly (Musca domestica L.) revealed that the anterior ends and the profiles of the posterior spiracles had markedly distinguishing characteristics. Morphometric analysis of the length and width of puparia, along with the length of the gaps between the posterior spiracles of seven fly species, displayed differences among them. This provides a key to identifying the puparia of these seven fly species. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.
format Article
author Sukontason K.L.
Ngern-Klun R.
Sripakdee D.
Sukontason K.
spellingShingle Sukontason K.L.
Ngern-Klun R.
Sripakdee D.
Sukontason K.
Identifying fly puparia by clearing technique: Application to forensic entomology
author_facet Sukontason K.L.
Ngern-Klun R.
Sripakdee D.
Sukontason K.
author_sort Sukontason K.L.
title Identifying fly puparia by clearing technique: Application to forensic entomology
title_short Identifying fly puparia by clearing technique: Application to forensic entomology
title_full Identifying fly puparia by clearing technique: Application to forensic entomology
title_fullStr Identifying fly puparia by clearing technique: Application to forensic entomology
title_full_unstemmed Identifying fly puparia by clearing technique: Application to forensic entomology
title_sort identifying fly puparia by clearing technique: application to forensic entomology
publishDate 2014
url http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-34548581163&partnerID=40&md5=cf23d14131c6b6b8b5a231596922a4c9
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17687570
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2137
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