A Checklist of Forensic Important Flies (Insecta: Diptera) Associated with Indoor Rat Carrion in Iran

Abstract

The study of Diptera provide useful complementary data to estimate the post-mortem interval in forensic cases. For the use of insects in criminal investigations, study of insect fauna in each region is essential. This is the first report studying the flies associated with indoor carrion of two carcasses of rats (Rattus norvegicus), in Iran. Rat carcasses were exposed in an old room (6 m 2 ) of a house for 6 weeks in the Fars Province, Iran. In this period during; 3 families, 6 genera and 9 species were collected viz. Muscidae: Musca domestica and Ophyra sp,; Calliphoridae: Calliphora vicina‚ Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vomitoria and Lucilia caesar; Sarcophagidae: Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis and Sarcophaga sp. Chrysomya albiceps and Musca domestica were collected in all stages of decomposition. The first flies egg mass seen in fresh stage of decomposition belonged to Calliphora vicina species. Information from this study can be helpful in forensic entomology.