Effect of Seasonal Temperature Variations on the Life Cycle Duration ofForensically Important Calliphorid Fly, Chrysomya saffranea (Bigot, 1877)

Abstract

The present study deals with the effects of variation in temperature and humidity on the different life cycle stages of Calliphoridae fly Chrysomya saffranea. In India for first time, Chrysomya saffranea was recorded apart from Australia as a native place of this fly. In this study different life cycle stages of Chrysomya saffranea in different seasons were observed. In summer season when the average temperature ranged between 30.5°C and 33.2°C and the average humidity ranged between 12% to 19%, life cycle duration was completed in 220 h (9.17 days) from the depositing of eggs up to the eclosion of adults. But in rainy season when the average temperature ranged between 25.6°C and 28.9°C, and the average humidity ranged between 50% to 65%, life cycle duration was completed in 259 h (10.79 days), while in winter season when the average temperature ranged between 17.8°C and 24.4°C, and the average humidity ranged between 17% to 28%, life cycle duration was completed in 341 h (14.21 days) from eggs up to emergence of the adults. The temperature and humidity are the most important factors playing role in the larval development, decay and degradation of the cadavers. Therefore, the climatic fluctuations and environmental changes play an important role in the life cycle of Chrysomya saffranea. All these factors must be considered in the Post Mortem Interval determination.