Postmortem-interval
Guides
Chrysomya rufifacies
hairy maggot blow fly, hairy maggot blowfly
Chrysomya rufifacies is a blow fly native to Australasia and Southeast Asia that has become established across the Americas, Africa, and parts of Europe through human-mediated dispersal. It is one of the most forensically significant insects due to its highly predictable developmental timing and tendency to colonize human remains within minutes of death. The species exhibits facultative predation on other carrion-feeding larvae, which can alter postmortem succession patterns and confound time-of-death estimates. Adults are medium-sized with metallic blue-green coloration; larvae are distinguished by prominent fleshy tubercles that give the species its common name.
Dermestes maculatus
hide beetle, skin beetle, flesh-eating beetle
Dermestes maculatus is a cosmopolitan hide beetle with worldwide distribution on all continents except Antarctica. Adults are 5.5–10 mm, black with distinctive white hair bands on the pronotum. The species is a specialized decomposer of dry animal tissues, with physiological adaptations enabling survival on desiccated carrion where competitors fail. It holds significant forensic value for estimating postmortem intervals and is widely used by museums and universities for skeleton preparation. Larvae are densely setose with paired urogomphi on the terminal segment.
Lucilia eximia
green bottle fly
Lucilia eximia is a green bottle fly in the family Calliphoridae, distributed throughout the Neotropics from northern Mexico to southern South America. The species is a significant forensic indicator used to estimate minimum postmortem intervals, with well-documented intra-puparial development stages and thermal accumulation requirements. Laboratory studies indicate adults require both sugar and protein sources for optimal longevity, with water deprivation severely reducing survival. The species colonizes animal remains in urban environments exposed to sunlight.
Phormia regina
Black Blow Fly, Black Blowfly
Phormia regina, commonly known as the black blow fly, is a forensically important necrophagous species in the family Calliphoridae. It is widely distributed across the Holarctic region and is considered one of the most important forensic indicator species in the United States for estimating postmortem intervals. The species exhibits temperature-dependent development with a biological minimum between 10.0–12.5°C. Adults are attracted to decomposing tissue and carrion for oviposition. P. regina is primarily active during cooler seasons, earning it the designation of a "cold weather fly" that moves northward as temperatures increase.