Original Research
European Journal of Forensic Sciences
www.ejfs.co.uk
DOI: 10.5455/ejfs.223264
Identification of a forensically and
medically important blowfly: A case
study of adult Calliphora vicina
(Rob-Desvoidy) in Turkey
identification of adult Calliphora vicina
Halide Nihal Acikgoz1, Duygu Divrak2, Meriem Taleb3
Department of Forensic
Biology, Laboratory of
Forensic Entomology/
Forensic Biology, Ankara
University, Forensic
Sciences Institute, Ankara,
Turkey, 2Tropical Butterfly
Garden, Selçuklu, Konya,
Turkey, 3Laboratory
of Biotechnologies,
Environment and Health,
Faculty of Nature and Life
Sciences, University of
Blida 1, Blida, Algeria
1
ABSTRACT
Background: Blowflies are a group of species which belong to Calliphoridae family, and they often colonize
human and animal corpses. Being the first species to settle on cadavers, they have become of great forensic
importance. They lay their eggs on corpses and play a crucial role in the decomposition process. Many species
of blowflies appear globally while some of them live in certain regions. Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy,
1830) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) is a species which is common in Turkey as well as in the rest of the world.
Aim: The aim of this study is to summarize the morphological features of C. vicina adults from Turkey so that
they can easily be used by non-specialists including the police and forensic teams. Material and Methods: The
specimens were collected using liver traps. The flies colonizing the traps were killed by thiamethoxam. The dead
specimens were collected, identified, and photographed.However, morphological features of the adult species
were evaluated using different keys. Results: The key was created for the purpose of easy identification of this
fly in Turkey. Conclusion: Calliphora vicina is cosmopolitan. In this study, there was no significant difference in
the morphological characteristics of C. vicina species between specimens from Turkey and those from Europe
Address for correspondence:
Halide Nihal Acikgoz,
Department of Forensic
Biology, Laboratory of
Forensic Entomology/
Forensic Biology, Ankara
University, Forensic Sciences
Institute, Ankara, Turkey.
E-mail: nacikgoz@yahoo.
com
Received: March 30, 2016
Accepted: May 24, 2016
e-Published: June 27, 2016
KEY WORDS: Forensic sciences, forensic entomology, Calliphora vicina, identification, Turkey
INTRODUCTION
Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) (C. erythrocephala
Meigen) is globally distributed and can be found in natural
environments even though it is a synanthropicspecies [1]. It
plays a very important role in the biological cycle of corpses
in nature [2]. Therefore, it is one of the most commonly used
blowflies in the determination of post-mortem interval (PMI).
This fly is usually closely associated to man. The importance
of this fly cannot be overemphasized because it is the causative
agent of human and animal myiasis [3-5]. In the cases of
advanced decomposition, when no tissues or body fluids are
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● Oct-Dec 2016 ● Vol 3 ● Issue 4
available, C. vicina and other Calliphoridae can serve as alternate
specimens for toxicological analysis.
Identification of C. vicina using morphological features and
knowing the criteria used for its diagnosis allow an easier, faster,
and accurate PMI estimation. In addition, it contributes to
solving forensic cases. C. vicina is one of the several species with
the common name of blue bottle fly because of the metallic
blue-gray coloration of its thorax and abdomen [5]. The fly
is large and usually ranges from 10 to 14 mm long. The head
of the fly is black in color, with the lower part of the bucca or
“cheeks,” which is often red or yellow [1]. However, its maggots
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Acikgoz, et al.: Adult Calliphora vicina (Rob-Desvoidy) in Turkey
are extremely common on human corpses throughout the U.S.
and Europe in temperate regions [1,6]. This species primarily
favors shady situations and urban habitats, where it is often
the dominant species on human cadavers. C. vicina is more
commonly seen around suburban and urban homes in warm
and sunny spring mornings laying in patches of sunlight. This
fly is sometimes seen in residential houses, which is one reason
why it may seem more common in forensic case studies [1,7].
C. vicina has been used in a variety of criminal investigations [7].
Subsequently, the adult flies lick blooms, ripe fruits, and
honeydew produced by scale insects and aphids, fermented sap,
and fruit juices. They also lay on feces, vomited material, and
cadavers or wounded animals. From there, they fly to foodstuffs
to feed, thereby contaminating them with micro-organisms
present on their body surface, their feces, and regurgitated
fluid [8]. In addition, much has been written about the biology
of this species, including rearing rates of immature forms at
various constant temperatures [7,9-15]. Therefore, this makes
it a very useful species for the determination of PMI.
Climatic factors, such as temperature, are also known to
influence egg laying and development of instar larvae. In
warmer weather, the life cycle span is shorter; while in cooler
temperatures, the life cycle is longer. This fly has a lower
threshold temperature for flight activity than other blowflies;
hence, this allows a greater prevalence during colder periods [5].
Small C. vicina adults lay fewer eggs than larger ones; however,
the egg size is not compromised [16]. This trend is expected to
occur with other closely related Calliphorids [7].
The maggots feed on decaying organic matter, mainly animal
carrion. Adult Calliphoridae females lay eggs on fresh cadavers
immediately after death under favorable conditions. Therefore,
the ability of blowflies to locate and colonize corpses represents
a key characteristic used in forensic investigations to estimate
the PMI. Having a good understanding of the duration between
the three instars, pupa stage, and post-feeding larval dispersal
can be very useful in the determination of a reasonable PMI in
a criminal case [5].
part of each bottle was reversed and inserted into the lower
part. Then, a hole which is large enough for a fly to go inside
was created on each side of the bottles. Two pieces of fresh
beef liver, each which weighed 200 g, were set in eight traps.
Furthermore, 2 g of thiamethoxam (10 WG, Distributed by
Novartis, Switzerland) was placed in a bottle cap next to the
baits. Acetate sheets were placed above the traps to prevent
rain from flowing into them. Hence, the flies colonizing the
traps were killed by thiamethoxam. The dead specimens were
collected, identified, and photographed. Identification was
performed under Leica S8APO trinocular stereozoom research
microscope at Forensic Entomology/Forensic Biology Laboratory
at the Forensic Sciences Institute, University of Ankara, using
the keys described by Smith (1986)[17] and Szpila (2012) [18].
RESULTS
The aim of this study is to provide guidance for unspecialized
CSI teams and forensic physicians. This would help them in
performing examinations in crime scenes in Turkey. This is done
by easily identifying C. vicina adults and establishing a key for
the morphological features of this species. Therefore, general
characteristics of morphological structures of the species were
presented in a way that even an untrained person interested in
forensic entomology could understand them easily.
In general, the body of adult Calliphoridae is divided into three
equal parts, i.e., the head, thorax, and the abdomen. C. vicina
species are metallic blue-black blowflies of about 10-12 mm in
length [Figure 2]. These flies live in urban areas and are the
first to reach corpses. The main identification features used in
identifying C. vicina are illustrated in Figures 3-6.
DISCUSSION
C. vicina is widely distributed worldwide. It is found in
Spain [2], Germany [19], Italy [20], the USA [21], Algeria,
Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan,
Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen [22]. In addition, it is found in
nearly all parts of Turkey: Ankara, Elazig, Hatay, Izmir, Konya,
In this context, the aim of this study is to introduce C. vicina
adults which are widely distributed in Turkey. Therefore, it forms
the basis of morphological features key which is easily used and
understood by non-specialists. The target population of this study
includes not only crime scene investigation (CSI) teams and
forensic pathologists or coroners, but also individual researchers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted in the garden of Forensic Sciences
Institute, Ankara University (39°56ʹ02.66″N, 32°53ʹ06.91″E).
Therefore, the altitude of the campus is 850 m.
Design of the Traps
Traps were prepared as shown in Figure 1. Two plastic water
bottles of 500 ml were cut below their necks. The upper
2
Figure 1: Design of the traps
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Acikgoz, et al.: Adult Calliphora vicina (Rob-Desvoidy) in Turkey
Figure 2: General morphology of Calliphora vicina adults. These blowfly
species are 10-12 mm long and appear metallic blue-black
Figure 5: Basicosta of Calliphora vicina. Basicosta is one of the two
plaques in the region where the wing that is connected with the body
typically looks like an epaulet. In C. vicina, it is generally orange or
yellowish-brown in color
Figure 6: Lower and upper calypters. Dark lower calypter setose above
Figure 3: Antennae and aristae of Calliphora vicina. Three-segmented
antenna found on C. vicina where the third segment bears a protruding
hair called an arista
Figure 4: Orange color of the anterior thoracic spiracle. Yellow to
orange gena or cheeks
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● Oct-Dec 2016 ● Vol 3 ● Issue 4
and Sanliurfa [23-28]. It is seen oftentimes on corpses by CSI
in homicide cases. Since forensic entomologists do not attend
crime scenes in Turkey and in most other countries [29,30],
specimens are collected by CSI teams. Some of the members
of these teams report observing black blowflies over corpses
during personal communications. However, they neglect the
collection of these flies on corpses for not being green in
color. Until recently, this important evidence has provided
critical information in solving forensic cases which have been
disregarded and removed during the washing of corpses [31].
Currently, there is an increasing awareness of the importance
of blowflies by the dint of scientific studies results [31-36].
Furthermore, there is still a problem which needs to be solved
at present. Entomological specimens are not collected carefully
and properly in crime scenes and morgues. In addition, they
are not sent to laboratories appropriately. They are not even
mentioned in crime scene records [30]. Thus, this is due to
the absence of forensic entomologists at crime scenes and the
lack of knowledge regarding the collection of entomological
evidence by police and gendarmerie. Therefore, we intend to
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Acikgoz, et al.: Adult Calliphora vicina (Rob-Desvoidy) in Turkey
highlight the importance of collecting blowflies whether they
are metallic green or black in color.
As for morphological differences, there was no significant
difference between the morphological characteristics of
C. vicina species from Turkey and those from Europe. Hence,
this is considered as an advantage for Turkish researchers.
The contribution of this study to the available literature from
Europe was not to introduce species of blowflies but to add to
the development in forensic entomology and CSI practice in
Turkey.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study performed to
reveal the forensic importance of morphological identification
of C. vicina in Turkey. The results of this study will increase
awareness in the identification of this blowfly by CSI teams
in Turkey. Due to the far-reaching influence of this study, PMI
will be determined faster and more easily. However, this plays a
significant role in solving forensic cases. The results of this study
will have a positive impact on public opinions about teaching
forensic entomology and solving forensic cases in Turkey. In
addition, it will decrease forensic investigations costs in the
long-term. Therefore, it can be suggested that the entomological
evidence should not be disregarded any longer.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We thank to Arzu Taherzadeh for assistance for taking
photographs.
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