Intrapuparial development of Sarcophaga (Liopygia) ruficornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), a species of medical-veterinary and forensic importance, under laboratory conditions.

Sarcophaga (=Parasarcophaga) (Liopygia) ruficornis (Fabricius, 1794) is a species of medical-veterinary and forensic importance, as its immatures cause myiasis in humans and animals and colonize carcasses and cadavers. Therefore, investigations into the biology and morphology of this species, with a particular focus on pupae that constitute ≥50% of the developmental period for the immatures, are pertinent. Although there are biological and morphological studies of pupae, the intrapuparial development at different temperatures has not yet been analysed. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe how temperature (22, 27 and 32 ± 1°C) affects the development and morphology of S. (L.) ruficornis pupae at 60 ± 10% relative humidity and a 12-h photoperiod. Ten pupae were collected, euthanized and fixed every 4 h from pupariation until 24 h and every 8 h until the emergence of the first adult. Emergence occurred at 440, 272 and 232 h at 22, 27 and 32°C, with 590, 380 and 330 pupae, respectively. The highest mortality occurred at 32°C. Eight periods were defined, and sex was determined in pharate adult stage; in addition, 40 key morphological characteristics to estimate pupal age were presented. These findings can serve as a basis for studies on the biology and morphology of the pupa of S. (L.) ruficornis, particularly in bionomics, control and forensics, helping researchers and experts.

Sarcophaga (=Parasarcophaga) (Liopygia) ruficornis (Fabricius, 1794) é uma espécie de importância médico­veterinária e forense, pois seus imaturos causam miíase em humanos e animais e colonizam carcaças e cadáveres. Portanto, são pertinentes as investigações sobre a biologia e morfologia dessa espécie, com foco especial nas pupas que constituem ≥50% do período de desenvolvimento dos imaturos. Embora existam estudos biológicos e morfológicos das pupas, o desenvolvimento intrapuparial em diferentes temperaturas ainda não foi analisado. Logo, o presente estudo teve como objetivo descrever como a temperatura (22, 27 e 32 ± 1°C) afeta o desenvolvimento e a morfologia das pupas de S. (L.) ruficornis a 60 ± 10% de umidade relativa e fotoperíodo de 12 horas. Dez pupas foram coletadas, eutanasiadas e fixadas a cada quatro horas desde a pupariação até 24 horas e a cada oito horas até a emergência do primeiro adulto. A emergência ocorreu em 440, 272 e 232 horas a 22, 27 e 32°C, com 590, 380 e 330 pupas, respectivamente. A maior mortalidade ocorreu a 32°C. Foram definidos oito períodos e o sexo foi determinado na fase de adulto farato; além disso, foram apresentadas 40 características morfológicas importantes para estimar a idade das pupas. Essas descobertas podem servir de base para estudos sobre a biologia e a morfologia da pupa de S. (L.) ruficornis, especialmente em bionomia, controle e ciência forense, ajudando pesquisadores e especialistas.

Development and Intrapuparial Characterization of Hydrotaea aenescens (Diptera: Muscidae) Raised at Different Temperatures Under Laboratory Conditions.

Species belonging to the Muscidae family are important in the medical-sanitary and forensic fields due to their biology. The intrapuparial stage of Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann, 1830), which represents about 50% of the immature development cycle in muscoid Diptera, has not yet been studied in detail. This study identifies and describes the main temporal morphological changes that occur in the pupal body of H. aenescens during its development at 22, 27, and 32 ± 1°C, RH 60 ± 10% with a 12-hr photoperiod. Ten pupae were collected, sacrificed, and fixed every 3 hr after pupariation up to 24 hr, and every 6 hr thereafter until the first emergence. Emergence took place at 282, 174, and 126 hr at 22, 27, and 32°C, with 520, 340, and 260 pupae, respectively. External morphology was described and recorded at eight development stages: pupariation, pre-pupae, early and late cryptocephalic pupae, phanerocephalic pupae, pupae-adult apolysis, pharate adults, and imago, employing 18 key morphological characters for pupae age. These morphological pupae characters, comprise, therefore an alternative and/or additional method to aid in determining the minimum Postmortem Interval (minPMI).