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Muscle attachment site (MAS) patterns for species determination in European species of Lucilia (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

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Abstract

Species identification is generally assessed to be more difficult in larval stages than in adult forms. Especially closely related species such as Lucilia caesar and Lucilia illustris are difficult to identify. The aim of this study was to simplify species determination in Lucilia larvae for entomological and forensic purposes. Muscle attachment site (MAS) patterns were previously found to be a good tool for species determination in blowfly larvae. Here, distinctive MAS patterns are presented for European Lucilia ampullacea, L. caesar, L. illustris, L. richardsi, L. sericata, and L. silvarum. A joint pattern for the genus Lucilia is provided for a quick classification of a larva to the genus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Jena, Thueringen, Germany

    Senta Niederegger & Gita Mall

  2. Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Chair of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland

    Krzysztof Szpila

Authors
  1. Senta Niederegger
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  2. Krzysztof Szpila
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  3. Gita Mall
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Correspondence to Senta Niederegger.

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Niederegger, S., Szpila, K. & Mall, G. Muscle attachment site (MAS) patterns for species determination in European species of Lucilia (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Parasitol Res 114, 851–859 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4248-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4248-3

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