title: Morphological comparison between Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) and Chrysomya villeneuvi Patton (Diptera: Calliphoridae) puparia, forensically important blow flies.
abstract: In Thailand, the hairy maggots of the blow flies, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) and Chrysomya villeneuvi Patton, are of forensic importance. Both flies are closely related species, not only in the morphological appearance of their larvae and puparia, but also on the aggressive feeding habit of the former. In our continuing studies of forensically important flies, identification of immature ones needs particular attention. In this study, we reported the morphological comparison between the puparia of these two blow fly species using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Observation revealed that the cuticular sculpture of tubercles along the dorsal and lateral segments had markedly different features: with C. rufifacies having many sharp spines assembling only at the tip, while of C. villeneuvi bore stout spines throughout the tubercle. A larger number of globules at the bubble membrane on the dorsolateral border of the fifth segment was found in C. villeneuvi (average 225) than in C. rufifacies (average 35), and more papillae was observed on the anterior spiracle in C. villeneuvi (13-15) than in C. rufifacies (9-12). However, the morphology of distinct net-like patches of the integument and structure of the posterior spiracle of both species were almost identical. Morphological comparison in this study permitted identification of the puparia of both fly species, particularly in areas where they co-exist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. klikitvo@mail.med.cmu.ac.th
authors.forename: Kabkaew L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Sukontason
authors.forename: Paitoon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Narongchai
authors.forename: Chaturong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kanchai
authors.forename: Karnda
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vichairat
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piangjai
authors.forename: Worachote
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boonsriwong
authors.forename: Nophawan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bunchu
authors.forename: Duanghatai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sripakdee
authors.forename: Tarinee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chaiwong
authors.forename: Budsabong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuntalue
authors.forename: Sirisuda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siriwattanarungsee
authors.forename: Kom
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sukontason
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004772:Entomology; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011679:Pupa / Q000648:ultrastructure*