Abai, MR

6th International Congress of DipterologyClearing technique to identify fly puparia: application inforensic entomologySukontason, K.L., D. Sripakdee, B. Ngern-klun & K. SukontasonDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai50200, ThailandIn many cases of forensic investigations, the immature stage of the fly (egg,larva or puparia) can be used as entomological evidence at death scenes,not only to estimate the post-mortem interval, but also may indicate themovement of a corpse in homicide cases. In order to achieve efficient useby forensic entomologists, identification of fly specimens found in a corpseis primarily needed. Typically, puparia of flies, particularly those offorensic importance, are similar in general appearance, being coarctate andlight brown to black in color. In this study, we reported the clearingtechnique used to pale the integument of fly puparia, thereby allowingobservation on some important puparial features (i.e. the posterior spiracle,integument or intersegmental spine between the prothorax and mesothorax),which are used for identification. We used puparia of the blow fly,Chrysomya megacephala, as the model species in this experiment. Beingplaced in 20% potassium hydroxide solution daily and then mounted onclearing medium (Permount ® ), the profile of the posterior spiracle andintersegmental spine of C. megacephala puparia could be clearly examinedunder light microscope beginning on the 5 th day; whereas the number ofpapillae in the anterior spiracle was counted easily starting from the 9 th day.Puparia of other blow flies (Chrysomya nigripes, Chrysomya rufifacies,Chrysomya villeneuvi and Lucilia cuprina) and a house fly (Muscadomestica) were illustrated, focusing on the profiles of the posteriorspiracle, integument and intersegmental spine between the prothorax andmesothorax.Key Words: technique, puparia, fly, identification, forensic entomology∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗248