%0 Journal Article
%T Life cycle of Lucilia sericata (Meigen 1826) collected from Andean mountains
%A David A. Donoso
%A Paulina Guarderas
%A Washington Pruna
%A ¨˘lvaro Barrag¨˘n
%J Neotropical Biodiversity
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1080/23766808.2019.1578056
%X ABSTRACT In forensic science, fly larval size and developmental time help to estimate the time elapsed since a person has died until the body is found, generally known as minimum postmortem interval (mPMI). Lucilia sericata (Meigen 1826) is a cosmopolitan and necrophagous fly species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) that usually colonizes decomposing stages. In this study, we determined life tables parameters of L. sericata (e.g. fly survivorship, mortality and life expectancy) and developmental time of different larval stages under controlled temperatures. Cohorts of 12 eggs (12 x 10 repetitions) of L. sericata were exposed to 8ˇăC, 10ˇăC, 18ˇăC, 25ˇăC, 30ˇăC, 35ˇăC, and 37 ˇŔ 0.5ˇăC. We found that larval development was not complete at 8ˇăC and 10ˇăC (minimum temperature limit), and at 35ˇăC and 37ˇăC (maximum temperature limit). The number of larvae that reached the adult stage was similar (F2,30 = 0.20, p = 0.814) at all viable temperatures (18ˇăC, 25ˇăC, and 30ˇăC). We found the highest mortality to occur at initial developmental stages. Under viable temperatures, the developmental time of L. sericata from egg to adult decreases with temperature, with an average of 778 h at 18ˇăC, 401 h at 25ˇăC, and 288 h at 30ˇăC. The developmental time of L. sericata at the fastest temperature (778 h) is similar to that found in Vienna (Austria), but it is 2¨C3 times slower than that in three cities across the United States. These results will improve the estimation of mPMIs in tropical countries across the Andes regio
%U https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23766808.2019.1578056