Scanning electron microscopy of third-instar sarcophagid (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) recovered from a mummified human corpse in Thailand

The third-instar of an unidentified sarcophagid, recovered from a mummified body of a 32-yr-old Thai male was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Although the morphological features of this larva are similar to the other sarcophagid larvae, some features could be helpful for species i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo 2003-04, Vol.45 (2), p.95-98
Main Authors: Sukontason, Kom, Sukontason, Kabkaew L, Piangjai, Somsak
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Diptera - ultrastructure
Female
Forensic entomology
Forensic Medicine
Humans
Larva - ultrastructure
Male
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Postmortem Changes
Sarcophagid
Scanning electron microscopy
Thailand
Third-instar larva
TROPICAL MEDICINE
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Summary:The third-instar of an unidentified sarcophagid, recovered from a mummified body of a 32-yr-old Thai male was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Although the morphological features of this larva are similar to the other sarcophagid larvae, some features could be helpful for species identification, which is a basic requirement for estimation of postmortem interval in forensic investigation. These features included number and arrangement of papillae on the anterior spiracle, structure of spines, size of circumspiracular tubercles at caudal segment and branching peculiarity of the posterior spiracular hairs. This information could benefit future identification of the sarcophagid larvae that exist in Thailand.
ISSN:0036-4665
1678-9946
0036-4665
1678-9946
DOI:10.1590/S0036-46652003000200008