Forensic entomology is a branch of forensic science that incorporates insects as a part of solving crime. Insect-based evidence recovered at a crime scene can be used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval, determine if a carcass/corpse has been relocated, and contribute to the cause and manner of death. The current review summarises the stepwise usage of forensic entomology methods at a crime scene and in the laboratory, including specimen collection and rearing, identification, xenobiotic detection, documentation, and referencing previous research and casework. It also provides three standards for the collection of insects when attending a crime scene. The Gold standard attributes to a forensic entomologist (FE) who is likely to be well-trained attending a scene. The subsequent standards (Silver and Bronze) have been added because the authors believe that this information is currently missing in the literature. The purpose is so that an attending crime scene agent/proxy with some basic knowledge and some simple tools can recover almost all the insect information required by an FE to make the best estimation of the minimum postmortem interval.

The present study investigates the developmental process of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) pupae and their dependency on soil composition, moisture levels, and temperature changes. This research holds implications for forensic and veterinary applications, providing crucial insights for estimating minimum postmortem intervals and managing myiasis-causing flies in diverse environments. Specifically, the study explores the impact of five moisture content levels in loam and sandy soils (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) on the pupal development of Ch. rufifacies under two distinct constant temperature regimes (24 ± 1 °C and 30 ± 1 °C). A significant correlation was observed between soil type and temperature regarding the time required to complete the pupal stages; however, moisture had no significant impact. Larvae exhibited varying survival rates across the two temperatures and five moisture levels in the two types of soils, particularly under extremely lower moisture conditions (0%) at 30 ± 1 °C, failing to progress to the pupariation stage. Additionally, growth parameters such as pupal length and width of the fully formed puparia were significantly impacted by temperature, soil type, and moisture level. Adult head width was systematically measured across different moisture levels and soil types, revealing distinct temperature-dependent responses. Furthermore, a sex-specific analysis highlighted that female Ch. rufifacies consistently displayed larger head widths and higher emergence rates compared to their male counterparts. This research enhances our understanding of the intricate interrelationship among three environmental variables: soil type, moisture level, and temperature, elucidating their collective impact on the pupation processes of dipterans.

Background: The aging of fly larvae is primarily determined by their temperature-dependent growth rates, a concept widely applied in forensic entomology to estimate the minimum postmortem interval using the accumulated degree day/hour (ADD/ADH) method. Method: This study adapted the same approach for veterinary entomology, offering insights into how accumulated degree day (ADD) can be used to estimate both the number and timing of fly generations in nature. This study details a method for identifying the pupation landmarks of Ch. rufifacies (Macquart) by characterising seven distinct pupal stages over time. Following this, ADD values were calculated for each life stage using developmental data collected from two types of ovine muscle: muscle with fat and muscle without fat, at two temperatures: 24 ± 1 °C for autumn and 30 ± 1 °C for summer, reflecting typical seasonal conditions in southwestern Australia. Results: This study also provided a graphical illustration of how to estimate the number of fly generations emerging during a season, based on daily temperature data from autumn and summer in southwestern Australia for the 2023/2024 period. Conclusions: This approach highlights the value of developmental data and ADD methods in veterinary entomology, offering a robust framework for understanding fly population dynamics for effective myiasis control strategies.

Proximate visual cues play a crucial role for flies (Order: Diptera) in locating suitable foraging and oviposition sites. This study examined the behavioural responses of two sheep myiasis-causing blowfly species in Australia, Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart), to six different reflectance levels of green and yellow hues. Both species were influenced primarily by reflectance intensity and proximity to the light source. Lucilia cuprina displayed a nonsignificant preference for moderate yellow (p = 0.25), whereas Ch. rufifacies showed a significant attraction to moderate green (p = 0.004) when presented with a two-choice comparison between moderate green and yellow. When exposed to three reflectance levels under each hue, both species responded most strongly to mid-range intensities in green but not yellow, with no significant differences observed among light and dark shades (p > 0.05). Zonal analyses revealed a significant aggregation of individuals near the light source (Zone C; p < 0.05), indicating that spatial orientation cues may be stronger determinants of attraction. Overall, L. cuprina was more responsive to moderate yellow and Ch. rufifacies to moderate green, but both species were predominantly guided by light-related spatial and intensity cues. These findings provide valuable insight into the visual ecology of blowflies and may be useful in optimising colour and reflectance parameters in the design of future commercial fly traps.