Stage Transitions in Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Implications for Forensic Science

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Maggot growth is important in estimating the postmortem interval in cases involving decomposing bodies. In turn, the time in which maggots transition from one stage of development to the next is crucial in determining growth rates. In this study, we examined in detail these transition times for two important blow fly species. Species transitioned between stages following a bell-curve pattern which was not previously known. This new information will be valuable for improving maggot growth determinations and postmortem estimates. ABSTRACT: Blow fly development rates have become a key factor in estimating the postmortem interval where blow flies are among the first decomposers to occur on a body. Because the use of blow fly development requires short time durations and high accuracy, stage transition distributions are essential for proper development modeling. However, detailed examinations of stage transitions are not available for any blow fly species. Consequently, we examined this issue in two blow fly species: Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina. Transitions for all life stages across all measured temperatures were normally distributed. Use of probit analysis allowed determination of 50% transition points and associated measures of variation (i.e., standard errors). The greatest variation was noted for the L2-L3, L3-L3m, and L3m-P stage transitions. These results invalidate the notion that largest maggots should be preferentially collected for determining current maggot population stage, and further call into question the relationship between intrinsic variation and potential geographic variation in development rates.