Development of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from the Jazan region of Southwest Saudi Arabia under different laboratory temperatures: applications in forensic entomology

Background Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) (blowflies), family Calliphoridae, is important in forensic entomology, where the minimum and maximum postmortem intervals (PMI) are estimated on the basis of the developmental stages of Diptera larvae that consume dead tissue. The present study was designed to estimate the effects of different ambient temperatures (20, 25, and 30 degrees C) under controlled laboratory conditions on the developmental stages of C. albiceps from the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Results The present study showed that the larval body weight and length were significantly increased when larvae were reared at 30 degrees C compared with corresponding values at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h at rearing temperatures of 20 degrees C and 25 degrees C; however, the weight and length were significantly decreased compared with corresponding values at 96 h at 20 degrees C and 25 degrees C. The pupation time was inversely related to the rearing temperature, occurring at 144, 124, and 120 h at rearing temperatures of 20 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and 30 degrees C, respectively. The pupal weight and length were significantly increased in larvae reared at 30 degrees C compared with those reared at 20 degrees C and 25 degrees C. At 20 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and 30 degrees C, larval durations of 5.00, 5.00, and 4.00 days were recorded, respectively. Pupae and adults showed gradual decreases in life stage durations, at 6.00, 5.30, and 4.80 days in pupae and 20.00, 18.70, and 16.90 days in adults, with increasing rearing temperatures. Average adult longevity at 30 degrees C (194.40 h) was significantly less than adult longevity at 20 degrees C (216.00 h) and 25 degrees C (204.60 h). The results showed an inverse relation between durations of developmental stages and rearing temperatures. Conclusions Insect laboratory colonization for the determination of biological characteristics of insects is economically viable for forensic entomology and as a technique for evaluating insect evidence.