Composition and life cycles of necrophagous flies infesting wrapped and unwrapped rabbit carcasses in Johor for forensic applications

In forensic cases, corpses are frequently discovered wrapped in some material, probably as a mean of disguising as well as enabling easier handling and preventing evidence transfer. The use of such wrapping materials may affect insect colonization patterns, resulting in erroneous estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI). Hence, this study utilized rabbit carcasses wrapped in used rugs with both sides remained open, to provide empirical data on species composition and completion of life cycles of necrophagous flies infesting in Johor, Malaysia. No differences in species composition between wrapped and unwrapped carcasses were observed. Six species (viz. Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya rufifacies, Hemipyrellia tagaliana, Ophyra chalcogaster, Ophyra spinigera and unidentified Sarcophagidae) were consistently observed in all decomposing carcasses. While completion of life cycle for Sarcophagidae was not observed during the 30 days of observation, completion of life cycles for the remaining five species i.e. C. megacephala (7.66-7.91 days), C. rufifacies (8.33-8.50 days), H. tagaliana (∼14 days), O. chalcogaster (∼15 days) and O. spinigera (∼16 days) were observably similar in all the carcasses. Since forensic entomological baseline data in Johor for these necrophagous flies remain scarcely reported, the results may prove useful for estimating minimum PMI via entomological assessment within this region or similar biogeoclimatic conditions.