Effects of temperature on Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) development

Growth curves were studied for the larva and pupa of Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis (Fallen) under cyclic temperatures with means of 15.6, 21.1, 26.7, and 35 degrees C, and a constant temperature of 25 degrees C. Development From ist instar to adult under all regimes ranged from 252 to 802 h. A constant temperature of 25 degrees C produced a range of pupation times from 93 to 153 h, with adult emergence ranging from 252 to 502 h. A maximal preferential temperature of 30 degrees C mas determined for maggots by using a gradient system. This study shows that S. haemorrhoidalis can be used as an indicator species when establishing a postmortem interval as long as the investigator accounts for the developmental variation prevalent within this species.