Abstract The Calliphoridae family is an essential component of the post mortem interval (PMI) for their developed ability to detect decaying human bodies at great distances, also for their ability to colonize carcasses at different temperatures in multiple geographic areas. We report for the first time, four species for the state of Yucatan, Mexico: Chrysomya putoria Wiedemann, Chysomya rufifacies Macquart, Lucilia cuprina Wiedemann, and L. sericata Meigen. We provide an identification key with illustrations included for the nine species present in the state and we include comments of their distribution.

Resumen La familia Calliphoridae es un componente integral de la estimación del intervalo post mortem (IPM) debido a su desarrollada capacidad para detectar la descomposición de cadáveres a grandes distancias y la habilidad para colonizarlos a diferentes temperaturas en diversas áreas geográficas. Se reportan cuatro primeros registros de la familia Calliphoridae para la entomofauna de Yucatán, México: Chrysomya putoria Wiedemann, Chrysomya rufifacies Macquart, Lucilia cuprina Wiedemanny y L. sericata Meigen. Se incluye una clave de identificación e ilustraciones para las nueve especies presentes en el estado y comentarios sobre su distribución.

Resumen La identificación del género Lucilia es importante cuando se recolectan adultos o larvas en casos forenses porque el intervalo post-mortem puede ser estimado. En este trabajo se analizó morfológica y molecularmente un panel de especímenes de Lucilia (n = 42) recolectados en Costa Rica, de los cuales el 21% de las muestras corresponden a moscas criadas a partir de larvas tomadas de cadáveres humanos. Morfológicamente, los ejemplares fueron identificados como Lucilia cuprina (1) (33,3% de los ejemplares), Lucilia eximia (1) (33,3%), Lucilia purpurascens (2) (21,4%) o miembros del complejo Lucilia (11,9%). La identificación molecular, con las regiones de la citocromo oxidasa I (COI) o de la subunidad ribosomal 28S, sólo fue posible para el 43% de las muestras. La mayoría de las secuencias obtenidas con COI fueron concordantes con los análisis morfológicos, pero la región 28S carecía de suficiente resolución para identificar muestras al nivel de especies, excepto para L. cuprina. Juntos, los datos genéticos y morfológicos indican que L. cuprina y L. eximia fueron las especies más comúnmente encontradas; las moscas criadas a partir de larvas tomadas de cadáveres humanos correspondieron sólo a estas especies. Hasta donde sabemos, este trabajo es el primero en Costa Rica y en la región centroamericana en describir la entomofauna cadavérica del género Lucilia, lo cual es valioso para el desarrollo de potenciales aplicaciones forenses.

Abstract The identification of the genus Lucilia is important when adults or larvae are collected in forensic cases because the post-mortem interval might be estimated. In this work, we analyzed morphologically and molecularly a panel of Lucilia specimens (n = 42) collected in Costa Rica of which 21 % of the samples correspond to flies reared from larvae taken from human corpses. Morphologically, specimens were identified as Lucilia cuprina (1) (33.3 % of specimens), Lucilia eximia (1) (33.3 %), Lucilia purpurascens (2) (21.4 %) or members of Lucilia complex (11.9 %). Molecular identification with cytochrome oxidase I (COI) or 28S ribosomal subunit regions was possible for only 43 % of the samples. Most sequences obtained with COI were according to a morphological analysis, but the 28S region lacked sufficient resolution to identify samples to the level of species except L. cuprina. Together, genetic and morphological data indicate that L. cuprina and L. eximia were the most commonly found species; flies reared from larvae taken from human cadavers correspond to only these species. To our knowledge, this work is the first in Costa Rica and the Centro-American region to describe cadaveric entomofauna of Lucilia genus, which is valuable for the development of potential forensic applications.

ABSTRACT The intra-puparial development of the blowflies Cochliomyia macellaria (n = 310) and Lucilia cuprina (n = 470), was studied under controlled conditions in laboratory. The 3rd instar larvae were reared until they stopped feeding, and the pre-pupae were separated according to the size in larval length and degree of pigmentation and of the cuticle. We observe a set of five continuous events or phases: (1) pupariation, (2) larva-pupa apolysis, (3) cryptocephalic pupa, (4) phanerocephalic pupa and (5) pharate adult. The total time of the intra-puparial development, larva-pupa apolysis to pharate adult, lasted for 120 h (5 days) to C. macellaria and 210 h (8.75 days) to L. cuprina.

RESUMEN La miasis es la infección de los tejidos u órganos de animales y seres humanos por larvas de dípteros; puede afectar a individuos de cualquier grupo etario, pero es más común en pacientes de edad media o avanzada. La miasis nasal, una infección de las cavidades nasales y paranasales por dichas larvas, es común en los países tropicales y en vías de desarrollo. Los casos informados de miasis nasal han sido causados por varias especies diferentes, entre ellas: Lucilia sericata en Corea e Irán, Estro ovis en Argelia y Francia, Lucilia cuprina y Phaenicia sericata en Malasia, Cochliomyia hominivorax en Guayana Francesa, Drosophila melanogaster en Turquía, Eristalis tenax en Irán y Oestrus ovis en Israel. Los principales signos y síntomas están relacionados con la presencia y el movimiento de las larvas, e incluyen sensación de cuerpo extraño, sangrado o secreción nasal mucopurulenta. La prevención se puede hacer con repelentes de insectos. El tratamiento de la miasis nasal se basa en el uso de antiparasitarios y técnicas para la eliminación de las larvas, pero puede incluir el uso de antibióticos profilácticos, sean tópicos o sistémicos, para las posibles infecciones secundarias. Se presenta un caso de miasis nasal y del seno maxilar izquierdo en una mujer de edad avanzada, que evolucionó favorablemente con el tratamiento.

SUMMARY Myiasis is the infection of animal or human tissues or organs by larvae of Diptera. It may affect individuals of any age, but is more common in middle-aged and elderly patients. Nasal myiasis, an infection of the nasal and paranasal cavities by such larvae, is a common disease in tropical and developing countries. Reported cases of nasal myiasis have been caused by several different species, such as Lucilia sericata in Korea and Iran, Estro ovis in Algeria and France, Lucilia cuprina and Phaenicia sericata in Malaysia, Cochliomyia hominivorax in French Guiana, Drosophila melanogaster in Turkey, Eristalis tenax in Iran and Oestrus ovis in Israel. Signs and symptoms are related to the presence and movement of the larvae, and include foreign body sensation, bloody or muco-purulent nasal discharge. Prevention may be done with insect repellent. Treatment is based on antiparasitic drugs and techniques for removal of larvae, but may include the use of prophylactic topical or systemic antibiotics for possible secondary infections. We report a case of nasal and left maxillary sinus myiasis in an elderly woman, who responded favorably to treatment.

RESUMO A miíase é a infecção dos tecidos ou órgãos de animais e seres humanos por larvas de dípteros; pode afetar a indivíduos de qualquer faixa etária, mas é mais comum em pacientes de meia idade ou avançada. A miíase nasal, uma infecção das cavidades nasais e paranasais por ditas larvas, é comum nos países tropicais e em via de desenvolvimento. Os casos informados de miíase nasal tem sido causados por varias espécies diferentes, entre elas: Lucilia sericata na Coreia e no Iran, Estro ovis na Argélia e na França, Lucilia cuprina e Phaenicia sericata na Malásia, Cochliomyia hominivorax na Guayana Francesa, Drosophila melanogaster na Turquía, Eristalis tenax na Iran e Oestrus ovis em Israel. Os principais signos e sintomas estão relacionados com a presencia e o movimento das larvas, e incluem sensação de corpo estranho, sangrado ou secreção nasal mucopurulenta. A prevenção se pode fazer com repelentes de insetos. O tratamento da miíase nasal se baseia no uso de antiparasitários e técnicas para a eliminação das larvas, mas pode incluir o uso de antibióticos profilácticos, sejam tópicos ou sistémicos, para as possíveis infecções secundárias. Se apresenta um caso de miíase nasal e do seno maxilar esquerdo numa mulher de idade avançada, que evolucionou favoravelmente com o tratamento.

La complejidad de los entornos urbanos puede tener diferentes efectos en la diversidad y la composición de especies. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar el conjunto de Calliphoridae en cuanto a su riqueza, abundancia y sinantropía en la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina. Se seleccionaron tres sitios de muestreo que difieren tanto en la distancia al borde o límite de la ciudad como en la intensidad de la urbanización. En cada sitio se colocaron 12 trampas cebadas con hígado de vaca (200 g por trampa) que permanecieron durante cinco días consecutivos durante tres momentos diferentes del año, en abril, junio y agosto de 2013. Se recolectó un total de 341 califóridas adultos pertenecientes a nueve especies, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), L. eximia (Wiedemann), L. cuprina (Wiedemann), L. cluvia (Walker), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), C. megacephala (Fabricius) y C. chloropyga (Wiedemann). Lucilia sericata fue la especie más abundante, seguida de C. vicina. La diversidad, la composición y la abundancia de especies cambiaron entre los sitios, observándose una disminución en la riqueza del sitio más urbanizado. Todas las especies son cosmopolitas, excepto Sarconesia chlorogaster, cuya distribución está restringida a Sudamérica. Estos resultados son consistentes con una homogeneización de la fauna en entornos urbanos.

The complex nature of urban environments can have different effects on species diversity and composition. The aim of this work was to characterize the assemblage of Calliphoridae regarding its richness, abundance, and synanthropy in Córdoba City, Argentina. Three sampling sites differing in their distance to the border of the city and degree of urbanization were selected. In each site, collections were carried out with 12 traps baited with cow liver (200 g per trap) that were operated for five consecutive days during three different times of the year, in April, June and August 2013. A total of 341 adult calliphorids from nine species, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), L. eximia (Wiedemann), L. cuprina (Wiedemann), L. cluvia (Walker), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), C. megacephala (Fabricius) and C. chloropyga (Wiedemann) were collected. Lucilia sericata was the most abundant species followed by C. vicina. Species diversity, composition and abundance changed between sites, richness being lowest at the most urbanized site. All species are cosmopolitan except Sarconesia chlorogaster, whose distribution is restricted to South America. These results are consistent with a homogenization of the fauna in urban environments.

El uso de moscas y otros artrópodos como evidencia para calcular la data de muerte de un cuerpo en estado avanzado de putrefacción, se conoce como entomología forense, una disciplina auxiliar de las ciencias forenses. La presencia de larvas sobre el cuerpo humano sin vida, permite al entomólogo forense apoyar al patólogo, estableciendo los márgenes mínimo de tiempo de muerte transcurridos desde la llegada de los insectos al cuerpo hasta el momento del hallazgo. En este estudio, se presenta un listado de dípteros de importancia médico legal colectadas en las adyacencias de la morgue del Hospital Adolfo Prince Lara, municipio Puerto Cabello. En los meses enero-marzo 2012 se realizaron tres colectas, una por mes. Las moscas se capturaron con el uso de una malla entomológica utilizando como cebo 500 g de hígado de res en estado cromático de descomposición. En cada colecta se tomaron datos de temperatura y humedad relativa (promedio = 30ºC y 48%, respectivamente). Se recolectaron un total de 257 individuos correspondientes a las familias Piophilidae (1,1%), Sarcophagidae (4,1%), Phoridae (10,2%), Muscidae (32,3%) y Calliphoridae (52,3%).Sin embargo, la especie más representativa durante el muestreo en las adyacencias del hospital fue L. cuprina, seguida de C. megacephala.

The use of flies and other arthropods as evidence to estimate the time of death of a body in an advanced state of putrefaction, known as forensic entomology, an auxiliary discipline of forensic science. The presence of larvae on the human body lifeless, allows the forensic entomologist support the pathologist, establishing minimum time frames death since the arrival of the insects to the body until the moment of discovery. In this study, a list of Diptera of forensic importance collected in the vicinity of the hospital Adolfo Prince Lara, Puerto Cabello morgue are presented. In the months January to March 2012 were made three collections, one per month. Using 500 g of beef liver decomposed (in chromatics stage) the flies were taken temperature and relative humidity (mean = 30 and 48%, respectively). A total of 257 individuals corresponding to families Piophilidae (1.1%), Sarcophagidae (4.1%), Phoridae (10.2%), Muscidae (32.3%) and Calliphoridae (52.3%). However, the most representative species during sampling in the vicinity of the was L. cuprina, followed by C. megacephala.

Clausena anisata is a medicinal plant used traditionally to treat myiasis and as an insect repellent by various communities. We have previously demonstrated the effects of C. anisata extracts on blowfly feeding and development in our laboratory. The impact of C. anisata leaf extracts on populations of different fly species on farms in Mpumalanga, South Africa was investigated in this study under field conditions. Flies were exposed to liver baits treated with acetone leaf extracts of C. anisata (150 mg/mL). Fly numbers and composition on two farms, with and without C. anisata treated liver, were compared during a period of 12 weeks when fly populations were expected to be high. Observations were made on fly behaviour and development, adult sizes and numbers. The flies exposed to liver treated with the leaf extract of C. anisata had a decreased rate of development, prolonged larval period, smaller body sizes and more sluggish behaviour compared to those subjected to the control treatment. No significant differences were, however, found between the numbers and sizes of flies on the treated and on the control farm, which was most likely due to the limited nature of the baiting programme we followed. The effects of C. anisata extracts on blowfly behaviour and development observed in previous laboratory studies were confirmed in this field evaluation. Although the extracts did not have a significant effect on the overall population size in this experiment, we believe that the C. anisata leaf extract could be useful in integrated pest management based on its effect on larval development. In addition, species such as Lucilia cuprina and Chrysomya marginalis seemed to have been repelled by the C. anisata treated liver; as a result, further work should explore this aspect and how it can be used for the protection of animals.

Las enterobacterias (Enterobacteriaceae) causan enfermedades entéricas. Este tipo de bacterias se pueden transportar y dispersar a través de insectos que actúan como vectores mecánicos, como las moscas (Insecta: Diptera). En este estudio, se aislaron e identificaron enterobacterias asociadas a moscas sinantrópicas, las cuales se recolectaron en cuatro áreas de diferente uso urbano en el municipio de Medellín. Se identificaron 13 taxones de moscas calipteradas pertenecientes a cuatro familias y se categorizaron según el valor del Índice de Riesgo como Vector Mecánico (IRVM) - propuesto en este estudio -. Las especies Chrysomya megacephala, Lucilia cuprina, Chrysomya albiceps y Musca domestica fueron especies de alto riesgo; Fannia sp., Atherigona orientalis, y Ophyra aenescens de riesgo moderado; y las demás se clasificaron como de bajo o ningún riesgo para transportar patógenos entéricos. Escherichia coli fue la bacteria más frecuente en los aislamientos (32%), seguida por Klebsiella oxytoca (12%), Pasteurella pneumotropica (11%) y Kluyvera spp. (8%). Raoultella ornithinolitica, Stenotrophomponas maltophilia y Chryseobacterium menigosepticum, se aislaron por primera vez asociadas a moscas. Finalmente, se hacen 22 nuevos registros de bacterias asociadas a ocho especies de moscas. Los resultados permiten evidenciar un alto grado de generalismo en la interacción entre moscas y bacterias y que las moscas sinantrópicas tienen un determinado grado potencial como vectores de enfermedades infecciosas de acuerdo con el índice propuesto.

Enterobacteria (Enterobacteriaceae) causing enteric diseases can be carried and dispersed through insects that act as mechanical vectors, especially flies (Insecta: Diptera). In this study, enterobacteria associated with synanthropic flies were isolated and identified; four different urban areas in the municipality of Medellín were surveyed. Thirteen taxa of calyptrate flies belonging to four families were identified and classified according to the Mechanical Vector Risk Index (MVRI) value, which is proposed in this study. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1819), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), and Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 are of high risk; Fannia sp., Atherigona orientalis Schiner, 1868, and Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann, 1830) of moderate risk; remaining species were classified as low or no risk. Escherichia coli was the most frequent bacterium according to the number of isolations (32%), followed by Klebsiella oxytoca (12%), Pasteurella pneumotropica (11%), and Kluyvera spp. (8%). Raoultella ornithinolitica, Stenotrophomponas maltophilia, and Chryseobacterium menigosepticum were isolated for the first time from flies. Finally, 22 new records of bacteria associated with eight fly species are documented. These results allow us to foresee the existence of a generalist pattern in the interaction between flies and bacteria and indicate that synanthropic flies have a quantifiable potential as vectors of infectious diseases according to the index proposed.

Introducción. Las miasis hospitalarias son entidades con una importancia manifiesta en salud pública. La documentación de este tipo de casos es escasa en la literatura biomédica regional y mundial. Objetivo. Informar un caso de miasis hospitalaria en Costa Rica, donde el agente etiológico implicado fue Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Este caso de miasis hospitalaria figura como el primer informe para Latinoamérica asociado con este agente etiológico. Presentación del caso. Una paciente de 91 años de edad, con signos de inmunosupresión, afectación grave de la función pulmonar y asistencia respiratoria mecánica, presentó larvas en ambas fosas nasales al séptimo día después del ingreso hospitalario. Varios ejemplares fueron recolectados y procesados para su identificación. La identificación taxonómica de los ejemplares recolectados estableció que la especie de los muscomorfos correspondía a L. cuprina. Conclusión. El presente constituye el primer caso de miasis hospitalaria por L. cuprina en la literatura biomédica de Costa Rica y el primero registrado en Latinoamérica.

Introduction. Nosocomial myiases can be an important condition from a public health perspective. However, cases of this condition reported in regional and worldwide biomedical literature are scarce. Objective. A case of nosocomial myiasis is reported from Costa Rica, where the species involved was Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Materials and methods. A 91-year-old patient with signs of immunosuppression, severe impairment of lung function, and mechanical ventilation presented larvae in both nostrils on the seventh day after admission. Five specimens were collected and processed for identification. Results. The taxonomic identification of the specimens established that the muscoid fly species was L. cuprina. Conclusion. This is the first case of nosocomial myiasis reported from Costa Rica and in Latin America for which the etiological agent is L. cuprina.

As moscas Lucilia cuprina, Chrysomya megacephala, Cochliomyia hominivorax e Musca domestica, estão entre as mais importantes pragas da pecuária causando miíases e como portadoras de microrganismos patogênicos. O propósito deste estudo foi testar a eficácia de várias concentrações do óleo de nim sobre pupas das moscas mencionadas em condições de laboratório e de campo. A redução da emergência das moscas das pupas tratadas com 0,6 por cento de óleo de nim foi de 95,6 por cento em condições de laboratório e 94,5 por cento quando aplicado ao solo onde descansam os animais durante a noite. A aplicação do óleo de nim a 0,6% no solo é uma alternativa viável para controle das pupas de L. cuprina, C. megacephala, C. hominivorax e M. domestica.

Flies Lucilia cuprina, Chrysomya megacephala, Cochliomyia hominivorax and Musca domestica, are among the most important arthropod pests of livestock, which produce myiasis and carry pathogenic microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to test of efficacy of various concentrations of neem oil on pupae of the above mentioned flies under laboratory and in field conditions. Reduction of fly emergence from treated pupae with 0.6 per cent of neem oil was 95.6 per cent under laboratory conditions and 94.5 per cent when applied on the soil, where the cattle rest during the night. The application of neem oil at 0.6 per cent on the soil is a viable alternative for controlling pupae of L. cuprina, C. megacephala, C. hominivorax and M. domestica.

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.

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.

Blowflies utilize discrete and ephemeral sites for breeding and larval nutrition. After the exhaustion of food, the larvae begin dispersing to search for sites to pupate or for additional food source, process referred as postfeeding larval dispersal. Some aspects of this process were investigated in Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830), utilizing a circular arena to permit the radial dispersion of larvae from the food source in the center. To determine the localization of each pupa, the arena was split into 72 equal sectors from the center. For each pupa, distance from the center of arena, weight and depth were determined. Statistical tests were performed to verify the relation among weight, depth and distance of burying for pupation. It was verified that the larvae that disperse farthest are those with lowest weights. The majority of individuals reached the depth of burying for pupation between 7 and 18 cm. The study of this process of dispersion can be utilized in the estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) for human corpses in medico-criminal investigations.

Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) is a cosmopolite blowfly species of medical and veterinary importance because it produces myiasis, mainly in ovine. In order to evaluate the demographic characteristics of this species, survivorship curves for 327 adult males and 323 adult females, from generation F1 maintained under experimental conditions, were obtained. Entropy was utilized as the estimator of the survival pattern to quantify the mortality distribution of individuals as a function of age. The entropy values 0.216 (males) and 0.303 (females) were obtained. These results denote that, considering the survivorship interval until the death of the last individual for each sex, the males present a tendency of mortality in more advanced age intervals, in comparison with the females.

The objetive of this study was to analyze the post-embrionary development of Lucilia cuprina under different temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35ºC), in order to determine the thermal constant of the different phases of this life cycle under laboratorial conditions. Thirty larva newly hatched were transfered to plastic recipients, containing 60 g of equine meat previously maitained 24 hours under 27ºC. After that, the recipients were kept in climatized chamber under different temperature. Each treatment was perfomed with three repetitions. The intersection of regression rate of the larval development shows that the temperature base was 10,35 and 10,13ºC, respectively, corresponding to the thermal constant 121,57 and 167,87 GD, respectively. The recognition of the thermal preference allowed us to determine that the larval development of L. cuprina on a diet of equine meat, at 25ºC, was the most adequate to the rearing of this diptera or under laboratoral conditions.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Lucilia cuprina em diferentes temperaturas (20, 25 30 e 35º C), para determinar a constante térmica das diferentes fases do seu ciclo biológico, em condições de laboratório. Trinta larvas recém-eclodida foram transferidas para recipiente plástico, contendo 60 gramas de carne eqüina, previamente mantida por 24 horas sob temperatura de 27º C. Em seguida, estes recipientes foram alocados em câmara climatizada nas diferentes temperaturas. Cada tratamento constou de três repetições. A interseção da regressão da taxa de desenvolvimento larval e pupal mostra que a temperatura base foi de 10, 35 and 10,13 º C, respectivamente, correspondendo às constantes térmicas de 121,57 e 167,87 GD, respectivamente. O reconhecimento da predileção térmica, permite-nos assumir que o desempenho das larvas de L. cuprina em dieta a base de carne equina de 25º C foi a mais adequada à criação deste díptero em laboratório.