Korean J Leg Med.  2006 Oct;30(2):147-153.

Molecular Identification of Six Necrophagous Fly Species (Family: Muscidae) by Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I

• Yu DH
• Park SH
• Zhang Y
• Jung HJ
• Yoo GY
• Jo TH
• Hwang JJ

Abstract

Estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) in a putrefied corpse has been a long theme in the forensic medicine. Insects, especially necrophagous fly species are now utilized as indicators of PMI because the first visitors to a dead body are usually known to be blow fly species (Family Calliphoridae). House flies (Family Muscidae) are later visitors but they are very significant in forensic entomology because of their worldwide distribution. Entomologic evidences recovered from the scene are often immature individuals such as eggs, maggots and pupae. Because growth rates and ecological characteristics are different among fly species, accurate species identification is essential. As species identification in immature stages is very difficult or even impossible to an expert entomologist, many researchers are trying to identify fly species by molecular techniques. Authors analyzed 400bp of mitochondrial COI gene sequences of six Muscidae fly species (Fannia prisca, Muscina angustifrons, Muscina stabulans, Musca domestica, Hydrotaea dentipes and Ophyra leucostoma). In spite of limited number of flies analyzed in this study, all six fly species have different haplotype of COI gene and shows minimal intraspecific variation. This result shows that six fly species analyzed in this study can be discriminated each other by COI gene sequence analysis. But, more individuals from various geographic region should be analyzed to apply this result to a forensic entomology practice.

Keyword

cytochrome oxidase subunit I; necrophagous fly; Muscidae

MeSH Terms

Cadaver
Cytochromes*
Diptera*
Eggs
Electron Transport Complex IV*
Entomology
Forensic Medicine
Haplotypes
Houseflies
Insects
Larva
Muscidae
Ovum
Pupa
Sequence Analysis
Cytochromes
Electron Transport Complex IV