title: Effect of body length and temperature on the crawling speed of Protophormia terraenovae larvae (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera Calliphoridae).
abstract: This work investigates variation in the crawling speed of Protophormia terraenovae larvae (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera Calliphoridae) as a function of body length and ambient temperature. A video-tracking system was used to follow the movement of larvae in an experimental arena, and to estimate their average crawling speed. Recordings were carried out at various temperatures using larvae of different developmental stages. As temperature increased, the larvae crawled at a faster speed. Furthermore, speed increased as a function of body length. We present a general allometric relationship to express the average crawling speed of larvae as a combined function of temperature and body length, expressed in the following equation: speed (cm/min)=5.45 x log[length (mm)]+0.66 x temperature (degrees C)-12.8. These results are particularly useful in forensic entomology for estimating the time that elapsed following the larva's departure from the corpse. This information can provide more accuracy for post-mortem interval estimations and a better comprehension of larvae behaviour and displacement.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Médecine Légale et Sociale, Faculté de Médecine, Place de Verdun, 59045 LILLE Cedex, France. damien@forenseek.org
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charabidze
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bourel
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leblanc
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hedouin
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gosset
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013696:Temperature