Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Insect Development and Life Cycles Insect Development and Life Cycles Images from

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Types of Insect Development Types of Insect Development Gradual (hemimetabolous) M MM Metamorphosis –I–Immature forms and adults utilize the same food source –I–Immature form resemble adults (no wings – no gonads) Three Stages –E–Egg  Nymph  Adult Complete (holometabolous) M MM Metamorphosis –I–Immature forms and adults utilize different food sources –I–Immature forms completely different from adult form Four Stages –E–Egg  Larva  Pupa  Adult

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Forensic Significance of Insect Development Forensic Significance of Insect Development Insect growth requires loss of exoskeleton –M–Molting – process of shedding old skin and growing new larger one (also known as ecdysis) The period between two molts is called a stadium. The actual insect during a stadium is called an instar. The molts for each species follow a definitive sequence as to number, duration of time between them, and the increase in size accompanying them. –T–This makes insects ideal to help identify the time and place of a corpse’s death

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 General Fly Life Cycle General Fly Life Cycle

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Egg Egg Up to 300 laid Hatch within a day of laying

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Larval Stage Larval Stage 1 st Instar –L–Liquid feeders –M–Move into bodies –M–Molt in 1 day 2 nd Instar –M–Move as maggot mass –M–Molt in 1 day 3 rd Instar –L–Largest size increase –M–Molts in 2 days Prepupa –L–Leave body –S–Stops feeding –E–Exoskeleton hardens to form puparium –T–Takes 4 days

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Pupa Pupa Contained in puparium Complete body transformation –1–10 days Adult emerges

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Blow Flies Blow Flies Order Diptera Family Calliphoridae –B–Blue/green metallic bodies –F–Fly 20 km to find body –O–Oviparous – lays eggs –F–Female lays 2,000 eggs –L–Life cycle influenced by temperature –F–Feed with mouth hooks

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Flesh Flies Flesh Flies Order Diptera Family Sarcophagidae –S–Striped bodies/red eyes –A–Arrive after blow flies –O–Oviviviparous – eggs hatch in female- live larva released

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Beetles Beetles Order Colleoptera –C–Complete Metamorphosis Egg  Larva (grub)  Pupa  Adult Larva have chewing mouth parts Up to 16 instars

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Putrification Stage Beetles Putrification Stage Beetles Larva feed on maggots –R–Rave Beetle Family Staphylinidae –H–Hister Beetle Family Histeridae

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Dry Decay Beetles Dry Decay Beetles Specialized scavengers Feed on hide and tendons –H–Hide Beetles Family Dermestidae –H–Ham Beetles Family Cleridae

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Parasitic Wasps Parasitic Wasps Family Ichneumonidae –L–Lay eggs on fly larva/pupa –F–Fly pupa can host 12 wasp larvae

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Moths Moths Order Lepidoptera –L–Last to feed on corpse Arrive after flies have left Larva feed on hair