ABSTRACT The classic episode of biological invasion: Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) versus Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) - evaluation of the biotic potential. The biotic of the native fly Cochliomyia macellaria and the exotic Chrysomya megacephala was compared, through the reproductive capacity and longevity. The experiment took place in a climatized chamber, with four repetitions of 15 grouped couples of each species. The posture, egg mass weight, and death of individuals were observed daily. C. macellaria showed an average of longevity of 27.72 days while in C. megacephala the average was 41.96 days. The egg mass weight average per repetition was 0.58 g and 1.22 g, respectively. These results give a better understanding about the population dynamics of these species in nature.

Morfologia comparada das espermatecas de espécies de Chrysomya Robineau-Desvoidy e Cochliomyia Townsend (Diptera, Calliphoridae). Pouco se conhece sobre a morfologia das estruturas quitinizadas das espermatecas de Calliphoridae. Nesse trabalho as espermatecas de Chrysomya albiceps Wiedemann, 1819, C. megacephala Fabricius, 1794, Cochliomyia macellaria Fabricius, 1775 e C. hominivorax Coquerel, 1858 são descritas e ilustradas. Foi registrada pela primeira vez a ocorrência em uma espécie com quatro espermatecas, uma forma atípica em califorídeos. A análise dessas estruturas possibilitará uma melhor compreensão do grupo e fornecerá caracteres taxonômicos para futuros estudos filogenéticos.

Comparative morphology of the spermathecae of some species of Chrysomya Robineau-Desvoidy and Cochliomyia Townsend (Diptera, Calliphoridae). Little is known about the morphology of the chitinized structures of the spermathecae of the Calliphoridae. In this work, the spermathecae of Chrysomya albiceps Wiedemann, 1819, C. megacephala Fabricius, 1794, Cochliomyia macellaria Fabricius, 1775 and C. hominivorax Coquerel, 1858 are described and illustrated. The occurrence in one species of four spermathecae, an atypical form for blow flies, was recorded for the first time. The analysis of these structures will allow a better understanding of this group as well as provide taxonomic characters for future phylogenetic studies.

Larvae of 13 blowfly species from Colombia are described and an illustrated key for all them is presented. All larval instars of Calliphora nigribasis Macquart, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius), Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani), Lucilia eximia (Weidemann) are described, but the second and third instars of Compsomyiops verena (Walter), and only the third instar of Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), Lucilia peruviana Robineau-Desvoidy, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) and Sarconesiopsis magellanica (Le Guillou).

Se presenta una clave dicotómica con ilustraciones para separar 13 especies de larvas de Calliphoridae de importancia forense en Colombia y la descripción de los estadíos inmaduros. Se describen todos los instar larvales de Calliphora nigribasis Macquart, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius), Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani), Lucilia eximia (Weidemann), el segundo y tercer instar de Compsomyiops verena (Walter) y solo el tercer instar de Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), Lucilia peruviana Robineau-Desvoidy, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) y Sarconesiopsis magellanica (Le Guillou).

The family Calliphoridae is widely known to lead the colonization of corpses and their development rates are frequently used to estimate the postmortem interval. This study presents the larval growth of five forensically important species of Calliphoridae in Colombia. Rearing took place in semicontrolled field conditions where the egg masses were collected. We show curves of larval growth, larval length and time intervals to reach all immature stages for Lucilia eximia and Cochliomyia macellaria at two sites with different climatic conditions and for Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya megacephala and Calliphora nigribasis at one site. Overall, high temperatures speeded up the development of the species reared at two different sites, whereas low temperatures for C. nigribasis, lengthened the total development time. Differences between this study and others can be explained by the experimental conditions in the field without the possibility of strict laboratory rearing controls.

La familia Calliphoridae es ampliamente conocida por liderar la colonización de los cadáveres y sus tasas de desarrollo son frecuentemente utilizadas para estimar el intervalo postmortem. Este estudio presenta el crecimiento larval de cinco especies de Calliphoridae de importancia forense en Colombia, considerando que la cría se dio en condiciones de campo semicontroladas en los lugares donde las masas de huevos fueron colectadas. Mostramos también, los intervalos de longitud y el tiempo empleado en alcanzar todos los estadios inmaduros para Lucilia eximia y Cochliomyia macellaria en dos lugares con diferentes condiciones climáticas y Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya megacephala y Calliphora nigribasis, en un solo lugar. En general, las altas temperaturas producen una aceleración en el desarrollo de las especies criadas en dos sitios diferentes, mientras que bajas temperaturas para C. nigribasis, alargaron el tiempo utilizado para completar el desarrollo. Las diferencias entre este estudio y otros, pueden estar dadas por las condiciones experimentales presentadas en campo sin los controles estrictos que son posibles durante la cría en laboratorio.

O presente trabalho objetivou determinar a flutuação populacional de califorídeos da Reserva Biológica do Tinguá (ReBio-Tinguá), Nova Iguaçu, RJ e correlacionar sua ocorrência com as variáveis ambientais de temperatura, precipitação e umidade relativa do ar. Os dípteros foram coletados mensalmente entre junho de 2002 e janeiro de 2005 utilizando quatro armadilhas instaladas em quatro pontos de uma trilha e expostas por 48 horas. Como atrativo utilizou-se sardinha e os insetos capturados foram conservados em álcool 70%. Foram coletados 8.528 califorídeos; entre estes, foram identificados treze espécies incluindo Laneela nigripes Guimarães 1977, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), C. albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), C. putoria (Wiedemann, 1830), Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau-Devoidy, 1830), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775), Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani, 1850), H. segmentaria (Fabricius, 1805), Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann,1819), L. cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830), Paralucilia pseudolyrcea (Mello, 1969), Mesembrinella sp. and Eumesembrinella pauciseta (Aldrich, 1922). Não foi encontrada correlação significativa entre a abundância dos califorídeos e a temperatura e umidade relativa do ar. Somente C. megacephala e C. albiceps apresentaram correlação positiva e significativa com a precipitação. A análise de agrupamento dos meses (UPGMA) mostrou que não houve diferença na composição da comunidade em relação à sazonalidade, indicando que a comunidade de califorídeos é provavelmente mais influenciada pelos nichos ecológicos ocupados por cada uma das espécies do que pelas estações do ano.

The purpose of this work was to determine the diversity and population fluctuations of calliphorid flies in the Biological Reserve of Tinguá (ReBio-Tinguá), Nova Iguaçu, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and to correlate their occurrence with the environmental variables of temperature, rainfall and relative air humidity. Specimens of Diptera were collected monthly between June 2002 and January 2005 using four traps placed at four points along a trail and exposed for 48 hours. The traps were baited with sardines and the trapped insects were stored in 70% alcohol. It was collected 8,528 calliphorids, thirteen species were identified among the blowflies including Laneela nigripes Guimarães 1977, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), C. albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), C. putoria (Wiedemann, 1830), Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau-Devoidy, 1830), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775), Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani, 1850), H. segmentaria (Fabricius, 1805), Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann,1819), L. cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830), Paralucilia pseudolyrcea (Mello, 1969), Mesembrinella sp. and Eumesembrinella pauciseta (Aldrich, 1922). No significant correlation was found between the abundance of blowflies and the temperature and relative air humidity. Only C. megacephala and C. albiceps showed a positive and significant correlation with rainfall. An analysis of grouping by month (UPGMA) revealed no seasonal difference in the composition of the community, indicating that the community of calliphorid flies is probably more influenced by the ecological niches occupied by each species than by the seasons of the year.

During 2004, four experiments were carried out, one each season, in order to determine the species composition and seasonal dynamics of Calliphoridae in a rural area of Córdoba (Argentina). Two pigs (Sus seroja L.), weighing approximately 8 Kg each, were used in each experiment. They were killed with a blow to the head and immediately placed in a variant of the Schoenly et al. (1991) trap. One pig was exposed in the shade and the other one under direct sunlight. The insect fauna was collected daily during the four first weeks and every two or three days thereafter. A total of 16.609 adults of Calliphoridae were collected, and later on identified as one of the following seven species: Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Phaenicia sericata (Meigen), Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann) and Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy. C. albiceps was the dominant species in summer, autumn and spring, being replaced in winter by C. vicina, S. chlorogaster and P. sericata. The analysis of the seasonal distribution of the species revealed that the greater incidences are in the months of summer, autumn and spring

Este artigo relata um estudo sobre Calliphoridae no Rio Grande do Norte. Foram coletados Calliphoridae associados a cadáveres em diferentes estados de decomposição, de várias regiões do estado, recém-levados ao Instituto Técnico e Científico de Polícia de Natal. Foram coletadas as espécies: Chrysomya megacephala (Fabr.), Chrysomya albiceps (Wied.), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabr.), Lucilia eximia (Wied.), Lucilia cuprina (Wied.) e Lucilia sp.

This paper reports a study on Calliphoridae associated to human corpus in Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. Collections of Calliphoridae were made in cadavers in different stages of decomposition taken to the Instituto Técnico e Científico de Polícia / Natal, from different regions of the state. The following species were collected: Chrysomya megacephala (Fabr.), Chrysomya albiceps (Wied.), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabr.), Lucilia eximia (Wied.), Lucilia cuprina (Wied.) and Lucilia sp.

Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera: Calliphoridae) é uma predadora facultativa sobre outras moscas-varejeiras, durante o terceiro instar larval. Nesse estudo, nos investigamos a taxa de predação de C. albiceps sobre larvas de primeiro, segundo e terceiro instar de C. megacephala e C. macellaria comparando a vulnerabilidade dos instares larvais frente à predadora. Para as presas de primeiro e segundo instar, C. albiceps apresentou maior taxa de predação sobre C. megacephala. Já sobre larvas de terceiro instar a predadora consumiu mais C. macellaria. O comportamento de C. albiceps sobre as duas espécies de presas sugere uma mudança na estratégia de forrageio da predadora e essa mudança pode ter influencia sobre a comunidade de dípteros necrófagos.

During its larval stage, Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a facultative predator on other blowflies. In this study, we evaluated the predation by third instar larvae of C. albiceps on first, second and third instar larvae of Chrysomya megacephala and Cochliomyia macellaria in no-choice experiments in order to compare the vulnerability of larval instars to predation. With first and second instar prey the highest predation rate by C. albiceps was on C. megacephala. For third instar prey, the highest predation rate was on C. macellaria. With second instar prey, there was complete predation on C. megacephala within 90 min, whereas in C. macellaria only 55% of the larvae were eaten by 90 min. For third instar prey most predation on C. macellaria (80%) occurred within 90 min, whereas in C. megacephala only 35% of the larvae were eaten by 90 min. Chrysomya albiceps changes the predatory behavior on its preys depending on which instar and species it will consume.

This paper deals with the distribution and specific richness of Calliphoridae in Argentina. The species treated are: Calliphora nigribasis Macquart, Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Compsomyiops fulvicrura (Robineau-Desvoidy), Compsomyiops verena (Walker), Chlorobrachycoma versicolor (Bigot), Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau-Desvoidy), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya chloropyga (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius), Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani), Hemilucilia souzalopesi Mello, Neta chilensis (Walker), Paralucilia fulvinota (Bigot), Paralucilia pseudolyrcea (Mello), Phaenicia cluvia (Walker), Phaenicia cuprina (Wiedemann), Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann), Phaenicia peruviana (Robineau-Desvoidy), Phaenicia sericata (Meigen), Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy), Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann) and Sarconesiopsis magellanica (Le Guillou). Seventy three new localities from Argentina are given.

Se da a conocer la distribución y la riqueza específica de las Calliphoridae en la Argentina. Se señalan las siguientes especies: Calliphora nigribasis Macquart, Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Compsomyiops fulvicrura (Robineau-Desvoidy), Compsomyiops verena (Walker), Chlorobrachycoma versicolor (Bigot), Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau-Desvoidy), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya chloropyga (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius), Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani), Hemilucilia souzalopesi Mello, Neta chilensis (Walker), Paralucilia fulvinota (Bigot), Paralucilia pseudolyrcea (Mello), Phaenicia cluvia (Walker), Phaenicia cuprina (Wiedemann), Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann), Phaenicia peruviana (Robineau-Desvoidy), Phaenicia sericata (Meigen), Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy), Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann) y Sarconesiopsis magellanica (Le Guillou). Se aportan setenta y tres nuevas localidades para la Argentina.

The equilibrium dynamics of native and introduced blowflies is modelled using a density-dependent model of population growth that takes into account important features of the life-history in these flies. A theoretical analysis indicates that the product of maximum fecundity and survival is the primary determinant of the dynamics. Cochliomyia macellaria, a blowfly native to the Americas and the introduced Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya putoria, differ in their dynamics in that the first species shows a damping oscillatory behavior leading to a one-point equilibrium, whereas in the last two species population numbers show a two-point limit cycle. Simulations showed that variation in fecundity has a marked effect on the dynamics and indicates the possibility of transitions from one-point equilibrium to bounded oscillations and aperiodic behavior. Variation in survival has much less influence on the dynamics.

This paper intends to recognize some aspects of interspecific relationships between Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) and C. albiceps (Wiedemann) and between C. megacephala and Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) larvae in laboratory. A diet consisting of decomposing horse flesh was used, and the relation of 1 larva/g diet was established. The development of the two species was done in pure and associated cultures. The association with Chrysomya albiceps influenced the post-embrionary development period and the weight of mature larvae of the C. megacephala, reducing their. Such weight decrease, along with the predation of larvae of C. megacephala larvae, yelded a decrease in survival in all of the stages. Larvae of this species showed an increase in its weight when associated with Cochliomyia macellaria. The native species responded to the association by reducing its body weigth and its viability. This association doesnt influence the duration of post-embrionary development.

Five species of calliphorid flies, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), C. putoria (Wiedemann, 1830), C. albiceps (Wiedemann. 1819), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) and Phaenicia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819), were collected hourly belween 6:00 and 18:00h., during five consecutive days per month for 12 moths; using home-made traps baited with rotting bovine lung. The data were statisticaly analyzed with relation to precipitation, temperature, relative humidity and luminosity. The results indicate that precipitation must have acted upon the seasonal abundance of the species, and that these responded equally to temperature, relative humidity and luminosity, throughout the entire day, except for P. eximia, which exhibited greater sensibility to these factors, demonstrating greater activity during the morning hours. The geographic expansion of invader species, associated to the tolerance to climatic variations was briefily discussed.