Description of Male terminalia of some Forensically important flesh fly species (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) from northwest India

Abstract

Abstract Sarcophagids have always depicted an essential role in forensic entomology as these flies immediately visit the carcass after blowflies. Further, some species of sarcophagid flies lay larvae thus are the easiest ones to rear and obtain pure colony, by which one can investigate the PMI (Postmortem interval) in minimal time. However, due to their similar morphological appearance, it is difficult to identify them based on external morphological characters. The study aimed to collect and identify forensically relevant flesh fly species from northwest India by using pig carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) as research model. Eight species of sarcophagid flies belonging to subgenus Parsarcophaga Johnston and Tiegs, 1921 are Sarcophaga albiceps Meigen, 1826, Sarcophaga hirtipes Wiedemann, 1830, Sarcophaga misera Walker, 1849, Sarcophaga sericea (Robineau-Desvoidy,1830), Subgenus Liosarcophaga Enderlein, 1928 (Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) aegyptica Salem, 1935, Sarcophaga duxThomson, 1868 and from Genus Boettcherisca Rohdendorf, 1937, Boettcherisca bengalensis Nandi, 1992 and Boettcherisca nathani Lopes, 1961 have been collected from three different habitats (indoor, outdoor and submerged) and five different seasons (Winter, summer, monsoon, post-monsoon) of the year 2015 and 2017 (Spring season). The present work incorporates the internal and external terminalia of all the above-mentioned species and their characters were used for the accurate identification of these forensically significant fly species, which is a prerequisite for PMI estimation.