Publication: Determining the fly and maggot population based on different types of animal meat
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Date
2026-02
Authors
Yie, Olivia Ong Jian
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Abstract
Necrophagous insects play a crucial role in forensic entomology, particularly in the estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI). Specifically, necrophagous flies have been the focus of relevant studies as they are the earliest colonizer of decomposing carcasses and cadavers. This study focuses on investigating the differences between the necrophagous fly species associated with different types of animal meat, which are pork, lamb, and beef. The experiment was conducted twice during rainy and non-rainy seasons to simultaneously examine the influence of environmental factors, including rainfall, ambient temperature, and humidity. A key finding was the distinct feeding preferences exhibited by Megaselia Scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) and Sarcophaga sp. (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) exclusively towards beef, while Chrysomya Megacephala were observed to feed on all types of animal meats studied, and Chrysomya Rufifacies feeds on both pork and beef. Additionally, environmental factors played a key role in influencing the decomposition rate and the insect activity, which leads to delayed decomposition and the oviposition of necrophagous flies. However, the findings of this study were limited to identifying the difference in feeding preferences among necrophagous flies, while the underlying causes were yet to be determined.
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