“ The insects will tell you everything, people lie, but insects don't lie.” Murray Marks ---forensic anthropologist, University of Tennessee

Blowfly Life Cycle

The Role of Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda) in Animal Decomposition

Key Points:

The Role of Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda) in Animal Decomposition Key Points: Following death, blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarchophagidae) are the first animals to locate and colonize the carcass – arriving within ten minutes of death. Following death, blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarchophagidae) are the first animals to locate and colonize the carcass – arriving within ten minutes of death.

(Order: DIPTERA, Family: CALLIPHORIDAE) Green Bottle Fly Phaenicia sericata, and Phaenicia cuprina

(Order: DIPTERA, Family: CALLIPHORIDAE) Hairy Maggot Blow Fly (Chrysomya rufifacies)

(Order: DIPTERA, Family: CALLIPHORIDAE) Oriental Latrine Fly Chrysomya megacephala

(Order: DIPTERA, Family: CALLIPHORIDAE) Blue Bottle Fly (Calliphora vomitoria)

(Order: DIPTERA, Family: CALLIPHORIDAE) Black Blow Fly Phormia regina

(Order: Diptera, Family: Sarcophagidae) Flesh Flies Sarcophaga spp.

(Order: Diptera, Family: Muscidae) House fly (Musca domestica)

(Order: Diptera: Family: Calliphoridae) Secondary Screwworm Fly (Cochliomyia macellaria)

The Role of Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda) in Animal Decomposition Key Points:

The Role of Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda) in Animal Decomposition Key Points: Following death, blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarchophagidae) are the first animals to locate and colonize the carcass – arriving within ten minutes of death. Following death, blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarchophagidae) are the first animals to locate and colonize the carcass – arriving within ten minutes of death. The decay process is highly predictable with respect to: 1) the associated external insect fauna and 2) the internal bacterial fauna – passing through various stages of ecological succession from the “fresh” stage to the “skeletal” phase. The decay process is highly predictable with respect to: 1) the associated external insect fauna and 2) the internal bacterial fauna – passing through various stages of ecological succession from the “fresh” stage to the “skeletal” phase.

The Role of Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda) in Animal Decomposition Key Points: Following death, blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarchophagidae) are the first animals to locate and colonize the carcass – arriving within ten minutes of death. Following death, blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarchophagidae) are the first animals to locate and colonize the carcass – arriving within ten minutes of death. The decay process is highly predictable with respect to: 1) the associated external insect fauna and 2) the internal bacterial fauna – passing through various stages of ecological succession from the “fresh” stage to the “skeletal” phase. The decay process is highly predictable with respect to: 1) the associated external insect fauna and 2) the internal bacterial fauna – passing through various stages of ecological succession from the “fresh” stage to the “skeletal” phase. see

The Role of Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda) in Animal Decomposition Key Points: Following death, blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarchophagidae) are the first animals to locate and colonize the carcass – arriving within ten minutes of death. Following death, blow flies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarchophagidae) are the first animals to locate and colonize the carcass – arriving within ten minutes of death. The decay process is highly predictable with respect to: 1) the associated external insect fauna and 2) the internal bacterial fauna – passing through various stages of ecological succession from the “fresh” stage to the “skeletal” phase. The decay process is highly predictable with respect to: 1) the associated external insect fauna and 2) the internal bacterial fauna – passing through various stages of ecological succession from the “fresh” stage to the “skeletal” phase. By studying these stages of decay and the abiotic conditions at the site (temperature, habitat conditions, etc…), forensic scientists can accurately predict the time of death or post-mortem interval (PMI). By studying these stages of decay and the abiotic conditions at the site (temperature, habitat conditions, etc…), forensic scientists can accurately predict the time of death or post-mortem interval (PMI).

The egg mass – the advantage of a well-placed larva

The Role of Dipterans (true flies) in Determining Time of Death Flies are ectotherms, thus growth rates for a particular species are primarily a function of time and temperature. Flies are ectotherms, thus growth rates for a particular species are primarily a function of time and temperature.

The Role of Dipterans (true flies) in Determining Time of Death Flies are ectotherms, thus growth rates for a particular species are primarily a function of time and temperature. Flies are ectotherms, thus growth rates for a particular species are primarily a function of time and temperature. If you know the temperature and the size of the larvae (maggot), you can determine the time of initial colonization. If you know the temperature and the size of the larvae (maggot), you can determine the time of initial colonization.

The Adult Fly -- Feeding