Rate of development of Hydrotaea rostrata under summer and winter (cyclic and constant) temperature regimes

The black carrion fly Hydrotaea rostrata Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Muscid ae) is a muscid, which occurs on approximately one-third of decomposing hum an corpses involved in homicide cases in south-western Australia. Work to d ate on its development rates is scant with only one published source availa ble. The current study measured the precise developmental rates of this spe cies using high repetition and sampling rates. A comparison was made of the developmental rates between constant and cyclic temperatures in winter and summer temperature regimes in south-western Australia. Developmental times for 90% of first stage larvae to emerge as adult flies are: summer constan t, 21.6 days, summer cyclic, 23.5 days, winter constant 64.5 days and winte r cyclic, 48.3 days. These data will allow forensic entomologists to make m ore accurate determinations of post-mortem intervals in cases where H. rost rata life history stages are present.