Preliminary studies of the influence of fluctuating temperatures on the development of various forensically relevant flies

Abstract

Development of larvae of different forensically important flies under constant low, medium and high temperatures as well as under daily fluctuating temperatures in a climatic chamber was investigated and compared. Results suggest faster development under fluctuating temperatures for Sarcophaga argyrostoma and Lucilia illustris but slower development for Calliphora vicina and Calliphora vomitoria. Fluctuating temperatures had a higher impact on larvae in feeding stages than in post-feeding stages. Moreover an ability to develop at constant low temperatures was noted for some species. Negligence of fluctuating temperatures in legal cases can lead to distinctly wrong estimates of the post-mortem interval (PMI).