title: Multiple species of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) as contaminants in forensic entomology laboratory insect colony.
abstract: In forensic entomology, larval rearing usually includes the presence of biological contaminants including scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae). Scuttle flies are recognized as forensically important insects and have been reported causing nuisance and contamination in laboratory environments. This paper reports for the first time the finding of multiple scuttle fly species affecting colonies of third instar larvae of the Oriental latrine blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), reared indoors at the Forensic Science Simulation Site, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Adult scuttle flies were discovered inside a rearing container after the emergence of adult C. megacephala., The scuttle fly species are Megaselia scalaris (Loew), M. spiracularis Schmitz and Puliciphora borinquenensis (Wheeler). Notes on the life history and biology of these species are discussed herein.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science Program, School of Diagnostic & Applied Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zuha
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science Program, School of Diagnostic & Applied Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: L X Q
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Jenarthanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R H L
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Disney
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic & Applied Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Omar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D004175:Diptera / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development*; D004772:Entomology / Q000379:methods*; D044707:Forensic Sciences / Q000379:methods*; D008296:Malaysia