›› 2013, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (8): 890-895.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Growth and development patterns of Hydrotaea spinigera (Ditpera: Muscidae) and their significance for estimating postmortem interval

MA Ting1,2, GUI Ling-Feng3, WANG Jiang-Feng2,*   

  1. (1. College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; 2. Department of Forensic Science and Technology, Guangdong Police College, Guangzhou 510230, China; 3. Public Security Bureau Panyu Subbureau, Guangzhou 511400, China)
  • Online:2013-08-20 Published:2013-08-20

Abstract: Hydrotaea spinigera Stein is a species that exists in corpses and the surrounding soil during the decay of the cadaver, and it has a great significance for estimating the postmortem interval for badly decomposed remains. Until now there has been no systematic research on the growth and development of this species. This species was collected in succession studies conducted with piglet carcasses. Our research provided an opportunity to derive developmental schedules for H. spinigera at four different constant temperatures [20, 24, 28 and 32 (±1)℃], and aimed to gain the data of its developmental duration and body length change with time that can be used in forensic investigations. The results showed that at 20, 24, 28 and 32 (±1)℃, the minimum average developmental duration of H. spinigera to complete their immature stage was 869.6±21.6, 673±18.5, 410±16.4 and 379±17.2 h, and the average developmental duration was 966±74.0, 808±80.2, 570±40.7 and 470±30.5 h, respectively. The larval body length increased with time, fluctuating between 12-14 mm after reaching the maximum length. The relationships between larval body length and time at four constant temperatures could be simulated by logistic function y=(a+bx)/[1+exp(c+dx)]. This is a relatively systematic study on the developmental biology of H. spinigera, which is meaningful for the determination of postmortem interval of more highly decayed corpse as well as for the control of hygienic pests.

Key words: Hydrotaea spinigera, growth and development, developmental duration, body length, postmortem interval