A New Species of the Genus Isomyia Walker (Diptera: Calliphoridae:Rhiniinae) from China

The present new species Isomyia caudidiversa being based on a unique male is described from Guangxi, China. It belongs to I. viridaurea group, which is characterized by both subcostal and r-stem veins bare below, thoracic calypter lobulate, postalar declivity usually haired in part, etc. However the new species may be distinguished from its congeners by having the male anal cerci separated from each other in apical half. Referring to this character, the new species is named.

Identification of forensically important blow fly species （Diptera： Calliphoridae） in China by mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene differentiation

Unambiguous and rapid sarcosaphagous insect species identification is an essential requirement for forensic investigations. Although some insect species are difficult to classify morphologically, they can be effectively identified using molecular methods based on similarity with abundant authenticated reference DNA sequences in local databases. However, local databases are still relatively incomplete in China because of the large land area with distinct regional conditions. In this study, 75 forensically important blow flies were collected from 23 locations in 16 Chinese provinces, and a 278-bp segment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene of all specimens was successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced segments showed that all Calliphorid specimens were properly assigned into nine species with relatively strong supporting values, thus indicating that the 278-bp cytochrome oxidase subunit one region is suitable for identification of Calliphorid species. The clear difference between intraspecific threshold and interspecific divergence confirmed the potential of this region for Calliphorid species identification, especially for distinguishing between morphologically similar species. Intraspecific geographic variations were observed in Lucilia sericata （Meigen, 1826） and Lucilia caesar （Linnaeus, 1758）.

Histological age estimation of the eggs of Calliphora vicina Robineau Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Aging blow fly eggs can be critical to a forensic investigation,but there are currently no forensically useful timelines describing internal anatomical changes in embryological development.This is partly due to the lack of an economical,rapid and technically simple histological technique to allow mass production of slides for research and casework.We present a histological method that uses a slightly modified standard laboratory processing run with 1 h fixation in 10% formalin,2 h softening in Molliflex and Haemotoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining.We also present a summary of the internal anatomical changes that can be visualized using our technique in the developing eggs of Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae).We examined eggs from at least three different females grown at 15 ℃ and sampled at 6 h intervals,and eggs grown at 20 ℃ and sampled at 3 h intervals.Blind aging trials demonstrated that it is possible to accurately age material grown at 20 ℃ to within 6 h (but attempts to further narrow this interval resulted in errors in one-third of cases).It was also possible to see sufficient anatomical detail to age eggs preserved for forensic casework 5,8,9,10 and 11 years previously.Additionally,we determined that section quality was improved by 5 s fixation in hot water prior to preservation in ethanol.However,hot water fixation for longer than this increased the level of section artefact.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis supports the valid separate species status of Lucilia caesar and L.illustris (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Common DNA-based species determination methods fail to distinguish some blow flies in the forensically and medically important genus Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy.This is a practical problem,and it has also been interpreted as casting doubt on the validity of some morphologically defined species.An example is Lucilia illustris and L.caesar,which co-occur in Europe whilst only L.illustris has been collected in North America.Reports that these species shared both mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences,along with claims that diagnostic morphological characters are difficult to interpret,were used to question their separate species status.We report here that amplified fragment length polymorphism profiles strongly support the validity of both species based on both assignment and phylogenetic analysis,and that traditional identification criteria based on male and female genital morphology are more reliable than has been claimed.

Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA-based Identification of Some Forensically Important Calliphoridae(Diptera)in Luoyang of China

Introduction:Calliphoridae plays a key role in forensic entomology research,which is one of the first insects to decompose animal carcasses.The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2(ITS2)are among the most widely used molecular markers for insect taxonomic characterization.Aim:The aim of the study was to test the suitability of two genetic markers based on conducting the molecular identification of six necrophagous Calliphorid flies.Materials and Methods:Fourteen Calliphoridae flies were collected and classified with traditional morphological characteristics.The DNA of flies was extracted and the fragments of COI and ITS2 were amplified and sequenced.All the sequences were aligned and analyzed by MEGA 7 software for NCBI BLAST,nucleotide composition,intra-and inter-specific divergence calculation,and phylogenetic tree inference successively.Results:The results indicated that COI and ITS2 genes were robust in the identification of Calliphoridae at the species level and ITS2 gene sequence possessed a strong resolution power as it showed higher variation values between Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina,Calliphora vomitoria and Triceratopyga calliphoroides,C.vomitoria andAldrichina grahami,but inferior to COI fbrT.calliphoroides and A.grahami.Conclusions:Our results showed that combination of COI+ITS2 genes yields more accurate identification and diagnoses and better agreement with morphological data than the mitochondrial barcodes alone.As a supplementary method for morphological identification,we advocated for the combination of nuclear and mitochondrial gene approaches to address the taxonomy and phylogeny of forensic relevant flies,especially of closely related species and populations.

Abnormal Succession of Insect Fauna on Pig Carcasses in Tandil (Argentina, Buenos Aires Province)

This project was an attempt to reconstruct a death in dubious circumstance which happened in December 2002 in Tandil (Buenos Aires Province). Although the body was in open air, the entomological expertise discovered signs of delayed colonization. In this experiment, pig carcasses used as models to reconstruct the case. One was placed in shadow and another in sunlight (control). The hypothesis was that the climate and the topography affect the necrophagous insect succession in a mountain site. The families of Coleoptera found on the baits were: Silphidae, Dermestidae, Cleridae, Histeridae;of Díptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae;Asilidae;of Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Encyrtidae and Vespidae.

To eat or get heat： Behavioral trade-offs between thermoregulation and feeding in gregarious necrophagous larvae

The thermoregulation behavior ofLucilia sericata larvae （Diptera： Calliphori- dae）, a necrophagous species that feeds on vertebrate cadavers, was investigated. These larvae require high heat incomes to develop, and can elevate temperatures by forming large aggregates. We hypothesized that L. sericata larvae should continue to feed at temperatures up to 38 ℃, which can be reached inside larval masses. Thermal regulation behavior such as movement between a hot food spot and colder areas was also postulated. The hypotheses were tested by tracking for 1 h the activity of single, starved third instar larvae in a Petri dish containing 1 food spot （FS） that was heated to a constant temperature of 25 ℃, 34 ℃ or 38 ℃ with an ambient temperature of 25 ℃. The influence of previous conspecific activity in the food on larval behavior was also tested. The crops of larvae were dissected to monitor food content in the digestive systems. Based on relative crop measurements, larvae fed at all food temperatures, but temperature strongly affected larval behavior and kinematics. The total time spent by larvae in FS and the duration of each stay decreased at high FS temperature. Previous activity of conspecifics in the food slightly increased the time spent by larvae in FS and also decreased the average distance to FS. Therefore, necrophagous L. sericata larvae likely thermoregulate during normal feeding activities by adjusting to local fluctuations in temperature, particularly inside maggot masses. By maintaining a steady internal body temperature, larvae likely reduce their development time.

Fauna and relative frequency of synanthropic flies in the biggest Persian Gulf Island,Qeshm,Iran

Objective:To identify the diversity and relative abundance of medically important species of synanthropic flies and their seasonal activity on Qeshm Island in Persian Gulf,Iran.Methods:Flies collection was performed during March 2011 to February 2012 in all different areas of the island by using the common fly trap and plastic water bottle fly trap,reverse-cone model,containing tainted lamb or beef meat as bait.The captured flies were identified by using valid flies systematic keys,checklists and species description.The relative abundances and seasonal activity of flies were estimated by means of flies captured per trap in every month.Results:In this study a total number of 11 species of medically important flies in three families including Calliphoridae,Sarcophagidae and Muscidae,were collected.The relative mean abundance of flies was estimated to be 6.3±1.1 per trap.The most abundance was seen in rural areas in the south of Qeshm Island with 10.1±1.5 per trap.In this island,medically impotent flies had two peaks of activity in early spring and early autumn,during April and October.Flies activity decreased in July and August due to the high increase of temperature and humidity of the weather.In February,the relative decrease in air temperature reduced the activity of the flies.Conclusions:Diversity and abundance of flies in spring and early autumn were higher than other seasons,especially in rural areas of Southern Qeshm Island.Insect control measures should be conducted during the peak of flies activity.