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. 2018 Mar 21;3(1):2-15.
doi: 10.1080/20961790.2018.1426136. eCollection 2018.

The uses of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in forensic entomology

Rozane Badenhorst  1 , Martin H Villet  1
Affiliations

The uses of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in forensic entomology

Rozane Badenhorst et al. Forensic Sci Res. .

Abstract

Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) occurs on every continent and is closely associated with carrion and decaying material in human environments. Its abilities to find dead bodies and carry pathogens give it a prominence in human affairs that may involve prosecution or litigation, and therefore forensic entomologists. The identification, geographical distribution and biology of the species are reviewed to provide a background for approaches that four branches of forensic entomology (urban, stored-product, medico-criminal and environmental) might take to investigations involving this fly.

Keywords: Chrysomya megacephala; Forensic sciences; biogeography; ecology; forensic entomology; life cycle; morphology; taxonomy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Anterior view of the head of a male (A and B) and female (C and D) adult of Chrysomya megacephala, showing the sharply differentiated sizes of the upper and lower facets of the male's eyes, and the shape of the female's frons, which has convex sides. Images A and C by Ken Walker via PaDIL - http://www.padil.gov.au under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Geographical distribution of Chrysomya megacephala, by country, with year of discovery outside native range (after [14,47,51,52,58,60–63]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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