The development of the black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen)

The black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen) is a primary species commonly u tilized to indicate a postmortem interval, or more appropriately a "time si nce colonization". Due to the importance of this species as a secondary myi asis producer in livestock operations, and more recently as a time since de ath indicator in the field of forensic entomology, a considerable amount of data on its growth and development has been generated. However, the develo pmental time as reported by these studies varies greatly, and current more detailed data is needed for use in medicocriminal entomology. Hourly develo pmental data is presented under constant temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 , 35 and 40 degreesC, and cyclic temperatures of 10-15, 15-25, 25-35 and 35 -45 degreesC. This study is in agreement with the results reported by Kamal [Comparative study of thirteen species of sarcosaprophagous Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae (Diptera). I. Bionomics, Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 51 (1958) 261] and Melvin [Incubation period of eggs of certain musciod flies at dif ferent constant temperatures, Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 27 (1934) 406] only at temperatures of 25 degreesC and below. Bishopp [Flies which cause myiasis in man and animals: some aspects of the problem, J. Econ. Entomol. 8 (1915) 317] reported a shorter developmental duration for larval stages than what was produced with our laboratory rearings. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Irela nd Ltd. All rights reserved.