title: Postfeeding radial dispersal in larvae of Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera: Calliphoridae): implications for forensic entomology.
abstract: Blowflies utilize discrete and ephemeral breeding sites for larval nutrition. After the exhaustion of food, larvae begin dispersing in search of sites to pupate or additional food sources, a process referred as postfeeding larval dispersal. Some of the most important aspects of this process were investigated in the blowfly Chrysomya albiceps, employing a circular arena to allow radial dispersion of larvae from the center. The results showed a positive correlation between burial depth and distance, and a negative correlation between distance and pupal weight. These results can be used in forensic entomology for the postmortem interval estimation of human corpses in medico-criminal investigations.
authors.affiliation: UNESP-Depto de Zoologia, Av. 24A, 1515 Bairro Bela Vista, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. leugomes@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Claudio José Von
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Zuben
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera; D004772:Entomology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva