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An examination of the intrapuparial development of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) (Calliphoridae: Diptera) at three different temperatures

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Abstract

The determination of intrapuparial development periods and development times of insects with holometabolous metamorphosis is necessary both in terms of developmental biology and for minimum Post-mortem interval (PMImin) calculations in forensic entomology. In this study, Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), which is a cosmopolitan species and one of the most rapidly attracted to carrion, was studied. The focus was the intrapuparial development periods of this species at varying temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C), knowledge which is used in forensic entomology for the estimation of Post-mortem interval (PMI) and is a type of black box. At the specified temperatures, pupae were collected and puparia were dissected hourly; thus, developmental periods were determined, and minimum and maximum starting times of these periods were calculated. With this research, a total of 20 periods, nine of which are new, were determined. The hourly determination of intrapuparial development periods at three different temperatures is the first in the world for this species.

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Acknowledgements

This study is based on the part of the MSc thesis of the second author. We would like to thank Hacettepe University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit for the 03-G-006 numbered project for their support in the establishment of the laboratory where the experiments were conducted and Dr. Senem Özdemir for her valuable contributions in various stages of the study.

Funding

No funding was received for conducting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Applied Biology Section Beytepe Campus, Hacettepe University, Çankaya, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Osman Sert

  2. Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Institute of Forensic Sciences and Legal Medicine, Department of Science, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ceyda Ergil

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  1. Osman Sert
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  2. Ceyda Ergil
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Conceptualization: OS; Investigation: OS, CE; Writing – Original Draft: OS, CE; Writing – review and editing: OS; Resources: OS; Supervision: OS.

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Correspondence to Osman Sert.

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Sert, O., Ergil, C. An examination of the intrapuparial development of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) (Calliphoridae: Diptera) at three different temperatures. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 17, 585–595 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-021-00411-y

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