Blowflies are an important tool in forensic entomology by providing information for criminal
investigations. Methods: The diversity and relative abundance of blowflies in summer and winter seasons in an urban
and a rural area in Qalyubiya Governorate, Egypt were investigated. The preference of blowflies to different food
substrates was also studied. Results: A total of 11,508 insects belonging to sixteen species from 10 families were
collected. More insects were collected from the rural area (64.37%) than urban one (35.63%). Most (93.55%) of the
collected insects belong to Order Diptera. Chrysomya albiceps, Sarcophaga carnaria, and Lucilia sericata made up
16.8%, 14.0%, and 12.5% of all the insects collected, respectively. Most adults were attracted to rabbit carcasses,
followed by beef steaks and mouse carcasses. Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya megacephala, Calliphora vicina, and
Lucilia sericata flies preferred rabbit carcasses, while S. carnaria and Wohlfahrtia magnifica flies preferred mouse
carcasses. All flies’ species were more abundant in the rural area except S. carnaria and Drosophila melanogaster. The
relative abundance and diversity of Chrysomya, Lucilia, Sarcophaga, Wohlfahrtia, Muscina, Musca, Drosophila, and
Fannia genera increased during the summer months. Conclusions: The abundance of insects on the rabbit carcasses may
simulate conditions similar to human corpses. The present results may be helpful for legal investigations in the region
and its surroundings. |
