Intrapuparial Age Estimation of Forensically Important Dohrniphora cornuta (Diptera: Phoridae)

Abstract

Abstract Dohrniphora cornuta (Bigot) is a forensically important phorid fly indoors and in burial environments. The determination of a minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) often relies on the determination of the age of the immatures. Although the larval development data of D. cornuta under different temperatures has been established, the intrapuparial stage which lasts for about half of the total immature development is scarce. In this study, we investigated the key morphological changes during intrapuparial development at constant temperatures (15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36°C), with an aim to estimate the intrapuparial age of D. cornuta. Puparia were sampled at 12-h (24, 27, 30, and 33°C), 24-h (18 and 21°C), and 48-h (15°C) intervals. The morphological developments within the puparium were analyzed using a stereomicroscope after the puparium was removed. The average minimum duration of intrapuparial stage was inversely related to temperature, ranging from 184.79 ± 3.00 h at 30°C to 1102.86 ± 25.55 h at 15°C for female, and 197.40 ± 4.12 h at 30°C to 1175.33 ± 18.55 h at 15°C for male. It did not develop at 36°C. Some morphological traits that changed during development within the puparium could be used as age markers. According to these changes, the intrapuparial stage of D. cornuta was divided into nine stages which could be used for both sexes. This study provides relatively systematic development data of D. cornuta intrapuparial for the estimation of PMImin in forensic entomology.