title: Volume of Larvae Is the Most Important Single Predictor of Mass Temperatures in the Forensically Important Calliphorid, Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
abstract: Calliphorid species form larval aggregations that are capable of generating heat above ambient temperature. We wanted to determine the relationship between volume, number of larvae, and different combinations of instars on larval mass heat generation. We compared different numbers of Chrysomya megacephala (F.) larvae (40, 100, 250, 600, and 2,000), and different combinations of instars (∼50/50 first and second instars, 100% second instars, ∼50/50 second and third instars, and 100% third instars) at two different ambient temperatures (20 and 30 °C). We compared 13 candidate multiple regression models that were fitted to the data; the models were then scored and ranked with Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion. The results indicate that although instar, age, treatment temperature, elapsed time, and number of larvae in a mass were significant, larval volume was the best predictor of larval mass temperatures. The volume of a larval mass may need to be taken into consideration for determination of a postmortem interval.
authors.affiliation: Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611 (savethemaggots@cox.net; capinera@ufl.edu) savethemaggots@cox.net.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Gruner
authors.affiliation: United States Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 7920 NW 71st St., Gainesville, FL 32653 (dslone@usgs.gov).
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Slone
authors.affiliation: Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611 (savethemaggots@cox.net; capinera@ufl.edu).
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Capinera
authors.affiliation: Division of Herpetology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 (mike@michaelturco.com).
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Turco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004772:Entomology; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D013696:Temperature