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Bionomics, reproductive traits and assessment of forensic relevance of Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

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Abstract

Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is a colonizer of cadavers in the Neotropical Region. Nevertheless, data on development for the P. (P.) chrysostoma (e.g., instar duration) and behavioral strategies used by the species for locating and colonizing a corpse are scant. We aimed to explore bionomic and reproductive aspects of the flesh fly P. (P.) chrysostoma, and in this article we: (a) provide quantitative data on the life cycle of P. (P.) chrysostoma; (b) present bionomic measurements (length and weight) of larvae and pupae; (c) describe intrauterine egg and larvae development; and (d) analyze the ovo/larviposition behavior by gravid females. Females showed ovaries with discernible eggs and larvae between 8 and 10 days (x̅ = 23.3 eggs/female). This study reports the first observation of egg deposition, an atypical behavior for the species. The average development time for immature stages was 22.24 h and 21.36 h for 1st and 2nd respectively, and 3rd showed an average development time of 80.47 h. Pupa had the longest duration (x̅ = 295.69 h). A direct increase was observed in weight (P < 0.05) and length (P < 0.05) throughout time. The average survival time of males and females is approximately 30 days. This study expands the knowledge on P. (P.) chrysostoma, such as facultative ovoviviparity under laboratory conditions and the life cycle, which may benefit future studies for accuracy in entomology-based estimation of minimum post-mortem interval (min PMI).

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Postgraduate Program in Animal Biology (PPGBA) for logistical support, the colleagues at the Laboratory of Forensic Importance Insects (LINIF) for their assistance, the Foundation for Support of Science and Technology of the State of Pernambuco (FACEPE) for the scholarship to the first author and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the productivity grant to the last author.

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  1. Post-Graduate Program in Animal Biology, Laboratory of Insects of Forensic Importance, Department of Zoology, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, s.n., Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Henrique Rafael Pontes Ferreira

  2. Laboratory of Insects of Forensic Importance, Department of Zoology, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Taciano de Moura Barbosa & Simão Dias Vasconcelos

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  1. Henrique Rafael Pontes Ferreira
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  2. Taciano de Moura Barbosa
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All authors contributed to the study conception, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, project administration, resources, software, supervision, validation, visualization, roles/writing - original draft, writing - review & editing.

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Correspondence to Henrique Rafael Pontes Ferreira.

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Ferreira, H.R.P., de Moura Barbosa, T. & Vasconcelos, S.D. Bionomics, reproductive traits and assessment of forensic relevance of Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Int J Legal Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03242-y

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