Lucilia silvarum

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Lucilia silvarum
Luciliaailelateralview.jpg
Lateral view of Lucilia silvarum
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Calliphoridae
Genus: Lucilia
Species:
L. silvarum
Binomial name
Lucilia silvarum
(Meigen, 1826)
Synonyms
  • Bufolucilia silvarum (Meigen, 1826)
  • Lucilia brunicosa Desvoidy, 1830
  • Lucilia nigripalpis Townsend, 1908
  • Musca silvarum Meigen, 1826

The common toad fly, Lucilia silvarum, is a member of the fly family Calliphoridae. This fly was first discovered by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1826 and is found most notably in European and Western Countries.

Contents

This species of fly is known for its ability to readily cause myiasis, specifically this is done by the female gender of this species. In addition to being a species prevalent in myiasis, this fly is also known to be prevalent around rotting bodies as it is attracted to their smell, as well as areas of high filth concentration.

Description

Due to the fact that this fly belongs in the order Diptera, there is one pair of wings which it uses for mobility. The larvae of these flies are typically about 2 mm (0.08 in) long when laid, and grow in size to approximately 17 mm (0.7 in). [1] Because it is a member of the family Calliphoridae, this fly is generalized by metallic coloring and plumose arista. The adults (imago) of Lucilia silvarum are generally found to be between 4.5–10 mm (0.18–0.39 in).

Distribution

Since the fly has been found to be a warm-weather fly, it is typically found in areas with temperatures between 75 °F (24 °C) and 85 °F (29 °C). Specifically, Lucilia silvarum is found in the countries: China, Denmark, United States, Finland, southern Norway, North Africa, Russia, and Canada. [2] [3]

Life cycle

Life Cycle Blowfly.jpg
Life Cycle

The life cycle begins with the mating of the male and female species of the fly and upon completion, the female begins oviposition and will lay the eggs on a place of interest such as an open wound, an orifice, or a pile of faeces. Once the eggs have been laid they will take approximately one full day to hatch, which is a short time period among flies. [1] Upon hatching, the larvae will begin the three stages of larvae development consistent with this family. The first stage occurs approximately after 2 days, while the second stage occurs after 2 and a half days, and finally the third stage occurs at approximately 4 to 5 days. [1]

Following the third stage of larval development, the larvae become uneasy and begin to roam away from their original resting place. It is during this stage that the larvae are now deemed a prepupae. This stage typically occurs 8–12 days after the eggs have been laid and will reach sizes up to 12 mm. Finally, the prepupae will begin to become a pupa after approximately 18–24 days, depending upon atmospheric conditions.

Lucilia Silvarum is one of the two species of blowflies that causes myiasis in anurans. This is extremely fatal to the host. The adult blowflies deposit their eggs on the anurans' backs which hatch into larvae after a couple hours. The larvae then burrows into the skin and causes lesions. However, because of their rapid growth rate, the larvae leave the amphibian's body in less than 1 week and migrate into soil in order to pupate. Generally, it takes them nine days to pupate into adult blowflies [4]

Ecology

Larvae of the family Calliphoridae are typically scavengers of carrion and dung but this species is also notorious for infesting necrotic tissue in animals and humans. [5] In reference to the adults, members of this family typically feed on nectar, sweet liquids, and things of that nature. [6] The specific distinction of the fly Lucilia silvarum that causes its common name to be the toad fly is the fact that at times the adult female will lay its eggs on toads and the larvae will become parasitic upon hatching. Studies have shown that typically parasitism by Lucilia silvarum has been fatal to their anuran host, but a recent study has found that there are two species of frog, the wood frog and boreal toad, that have actually been able to survive the parasitic larvae. [3] Some species of frogs that are typical hosts of Lucilia silvarum are listed below, but these specific hosts are specific to the Canadian regions.

Clinical importance

By far the most important clinical aspect of this species of fly is its causation of secondary myiasis in anuran hosts. Specifically, myiasis occurs when fly larvae, also known as maggots, infest living or necrotic tissue in either humans or animals. [7] One case of myiasis was observed in wood frogs, Rana sylvatica, in southeastern Wisconsin. [8] The results of the study suggest that this fly is a facultative parasite of this frog and other amphibians. Previous records of L. silvarum parasitism in North America showed that myiasis is fatal to anuran hosts. [9] However, after observations made from 1998 to 1999, infestations on Rana sylvatica(wood frog), Pseudacris maculata(boreal chorus frog), Bufo boreas boreas(boreal toad) and Bufo hemiophrys(Canadian toad) were reported. This is believed to be the first record of this parasite on boreal and Canadian toads. The most specific areas of occurrence for myiasis are in third world countries where common occurrences of misdiagnosis or no diagnosis occurs.

The use of maggots as a medical treatment was once used regularly as a verifiable medical procedure up until it started to be deemed as unclean and people became weary of having maggots placed on their flesh. Today, the use of maggots as a medical treatment is known as maggot therapy and has recently become far more prevalent in use and is specifically used to treat illnesses such as bed sores, foot ulcers, or post-surgical wounds. [10] Not only has maggot therapy become more prevalent, it was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a relevant treatment for wounds in humans. [11]

Forensics

This fly species is typically the first genus of fly to show up on corpses, specifically in the United States and Canada. It is this important fact that causes this fly to be of great importance to forensic scientists, specifically in determination of time of death of an individual.

From stage to stage of this species' life cycle it is required for each particular larvae form to molt. It is this molting which allows forensic investigators to determine the time of death in forensic cases. Forensic scientists are able to measure the size of mouth parts, as well as the size of the individual larvae in order to distinguish a range of time of death for a deceased individual. However, the molting of larvae can be severely altered due to the climate, humidity, and other atmospheric conditions and all of these particular concerns must be taken into account before a precise time of death is determined. [1] In the case of this fly, if a forensic entomologist were to find an empty puparia, it would be determined that the deceased individual died approximately 20 days prior. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maggot</span> Larva of a fly

A maggot is the larva of a fly ; it is applied in particular to the larvae of Brachycera flies, such as houseflies, cheese flies, and blowflies, rather than larvae of the Nematocera, such as mosquitoes and crane flies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calliphoridae</span> Family of insects in the Diptera order

The Calliphoridae are a family of insects in the order Diptera, with almost 1,900 known species. The maggot larvae, often used as fishing bait, are known as gentles. The family is known to be polyphyletic, but much remains disputed regarding proper treatment of the constituent taxa, some of which are occasionally accorded family status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common green bottle fly</span> Species of insect

The common green bottle fly is a blowfly found in most areas of the world and is the most well-known of the numerous green bottle fly species. Its body is 10–14 mm (0.39–0.55 in) in length – slightly larger than a house fly – and has brilliant, metallic, blue-green or golden coloration with black markings. It has short, sparse, black bristles (setae) and three cross-grooves on the thorax. The wings are clear with light brown veins, and the legs and antennae are black. The larvae of the fly may be used for maggot therapy, are commonly used in forensic entomology, and can be the cause of myiasis in livestock and pets. The common green bottle fly emerges in the spring for mating.

<i>Calliphora vomitoria</i> Species of fly

Calliphora vomitoria, known as the blue bottle fly, orange-bearded blue bottle, or bottlebee is a species of blow fly, a species in the family Calliphoridae. Calliphora vomitoria is the type species of the genus Calliphora. It is common throughout many continents including Europe, Americas, and Africa. They are fairly large flies, nearly twice the size of the housefly, with a metallic blue abdomen and long orange setae on the gena.

<i>Chrysomya</i> Genus of flies

Chrysomya is an Old World blow fly genus of the family Calliphoridae. The genus Chrysomya contains a number of species including Chrysomya rufifacies and Chrysomya megacephala. The term “Old World blow fly” is a derivative of both the associated family, Calliphoridae, and the belief that the genus Chrysomya originated in Asia and migrated to North America only relatively recently. Chrysomya’s primary importance to the field of medico-criminal forensic entomology is due to the genus’ reliable life cycle, allowing investigators to accurately develop a postmortem interval. Chrysomya adults are typically metallic colored with thick setae on the meron and plumose arista. The name comes from the word chrysos, meaning “golden” in reference to the metallic sheen of the genus’ species, and -mya, a derivation from the word myia, meaning “fly”.

<i>Cochliomyia</i> Genus of insects

Cochliomyia is a genus in the family Calliphoridae, known as blowflies, in the order Diptera. Cochliomyia is commonly referred to as the New World screwworm flies, as distinct from Old World screwworm flies. Four species are in this genus: C. macellaria, C. hominivorax, C. aldrichi, and C. minima. C. hominivorax is known as the primary screwworm because its larvae produce myiasis and feed on living tissue. This feeding causes deep, pocket-like lesions in the skin, which can be very damaging to the animal host. C. macellaria is known as the secondary screwworm because its larvae produce myiasis, but feed only on necrotic tissue. Both C. hominivorax and C. macellaria thrive in warm, tropical areas.

<i>Chrysomya rufifacies</i> Species of fly

Chrysomya rufifacies is a species belonging to the blow fly family, Calliphoridae, and is most significant in the field of forensic entomology due to its use in establishing or altering post mortem intervals. The common name for the species is the hairy maggot blow fly, and it belongs to the genus Chrysomya, which is commonly referred to as the Old World screwworms. This genus includes other species such as Chrysomya putoria and Chrysomya bezziana, which are agents of myiasis. C. rufifacies prefers very warm weather and has a relatively short lifecycle. It is widely distributed geographically and prefers to colonize large carcasses over small ones. The species commonly has a greenish metallic appearance and is important medically, economically, and forensically.

<i>Lucilia illustris</i> Species of insect

Lucilia illustris is a member of the fly family Calliphoridae, commonly known as a blow fly. Along with several other species, L. illustris is commonly referred to as a green bottle fly. Lucilia illustris is typically 6–9 mm in length and has a metallic blue-green thorax. The larvae develop in three instars, each with unique developmental properties. The adult fly typically will feed on flowers, but the females need some sort of carrion protein in order to breed and lay eggs.

<i>Phormia regina</i> Species of fly

Phormia regina, the black blow fly, belongs to the blow fly family Calliphoridae and was first described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen.

Entomological evidence is legal evidence in the form of insects or related artifacts and is a field of study in forensic entomology. Such evidence is used particularly in medicolegal and medicocriminal applications due to the consistency of insects and arthropods in detecting decomposition quickly. Insect evidence is customarily used to determine post mortem interval (PMI), but can also be used as evidence of neglect or abuse. It can indicate how long a person was abused/neglected as well as provide important insights into the amount of bodily care given to the neglected or abused person.

<i>Chrysomya megacephala</i> Species of fly

Chrysomya megacephala, more commonly known as the oriental latrine fly or oriental blue fly, is a member of the family Calliphoridae (blowflies). It is a warm-weather fly with a greenish-blue metallic box-like body. The fly infests corpses soon after death, making it important to forensic science. This fly is implicated in some public health issues; it can cause accidental myiasis, and also infects fish and livestock.

Lucilia thatuna belongs to the family Calliphoridae, the species most commonly referred to as the blowflies, and the genus Lucilia. Along with several other species of Lucilia, L. thatuna is commonly referred to as a green bottle fly. L. thatuna is very scarce and not much is known about this particular fly. It has been noted to reside in mountainous regions of the northwestern United States.

<i>Lucilia cuprina</i> Species of fly

Lucilia cuprina, formerly named Phaenicia cuprina, the Australian sheep blowfly is a blow fly in the family Calliphoridae. It causes the condition known as "sheep strike"'. The female fly locates a sheep with ideal conditions, such as an open wound or a build-up of faeces or urine in the wool, in which she lays her eggs. The emerging larvae cause large lesions on the sheep, which may prove to be fatal.

<i>Cynomya cadaverina</i> Species of fly

Cynomya cadaverina, also known as the shiny blue bottle fly, is a member of the family Calliphoridae, which includes blow flies as well as bottle flies. In recent years, this family has become a forensically important facet in many medicocriminal investigations in the growing field of forensic entomology. C. cadaverina is specifically important in determining a post-mortem interval, as well as other important factors.

<i>Lucilia mexicana</i> Species of insect

Lucilia mexicana is a species of blow fly of the family Calliphoridae, one of many species known as a green bottle fly. Its habitat range extends from southwestern North America to Brazil. L. mexicana is typically 6–9 mm in length with metallic blue-green coloring. This species is very similar in appearance to L. coeruleiviridis, the primary difference being that L. mexicana has two or more complete rows of post-ocular setae. L. mexicana has the potential to be forensically important in the stored-products and medicocriminal fields, but more research is needed for the fly to be used as evidence in criminal investigations.

<i>Calliphora livida</i> Species of fly

Calliphora livida is a member of the family Calliphoridae, the blow flies. This large family includes the genus Calliphora, the "blue bottle flies". This genus is important in the field of forensic entomology because of its value in post-mortem interval estimation.

<i>Lucilia coeruleiviridis</i> Species of fly

Lucilia coeruleiviridis, formerly Phaenecia coeruleiviridis, is commonly known as a green bottle fly, because of its metallic blue-green thorax and abdomen. L. coeruleiviridis was first discovered by French entomologist Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart in 1855. It belongs to the family Calliphoridae and is one of many forensically important Diptera, as it is often found on decaying substances. L. coeruleiviridis is one of the most ubiquitous blow fly species in the southeastern United States, particularly in the spring and fall months.

<i>Protophormia terraenovae</i> Species of fly

Protophormia terraenovae is commonly called northern blowfly, blue-bottle fly or blue-assed fly. It is distinguished by its deep blue coloration and large size and is an important species throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This fly is notable for its economic effect as a myiasis pest of livestock and its antibiotic benefits in maggot therapy. Also of interest is P. terraenovae’s importance in forensic investigations: because of their temperature-dependent development and their prominent presence on corpses, the larvae of this species are useful in minimum post-mortem interval (mPMI) determination.

<i>Lucilia bufonivora</i> Species of fly

Lucilia bufonivora is a member of the fly family Calliphoridae which are commonly known as blow flies. L. bufonivora is commonly referred to as a toadfly. The adult flies will typically feed on pollen and nectar of flowers, while the larvae are parasitoids that feed mainly on the living flesh of the common toad, leading to the toad's death, though they have been found as parasites on other frog and toad species. It is common in north west Europe.

<i>Calliphora quadrimaculata</i> Species of fly

Calliphora quadrimaculata, commonly known as the New Zealand blue blowfly and by its Māori name rango pango, is an insect in the genus Calliphora of family Calliphoridae in the order Diptera. This particular blowfly is found throughout New Zealand as well as on Chatham, Auckland, Stewart and Campbell Islands that surround New Zealand. Generally blowfly maggots in New Zealand have to feed on animal tissue or faeces to develop into adult blowflies. However the New Zealand blue blowfly larvae can survive on decaying leaves of snow tussock in alpine regions and reach adult maturity without feeding on any animal tissue.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Common insects in the early stages of decay". Forensic Entomology. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  2. ↑ Knut Rognes (1991). Blowflies (Diptera, Calliphoridae) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Brill. ISBN   90-04-09304-4.
  3. 1 2 B. R. Eaton; A. E. Moenting; C. A. Paszkowski; D. Shpeley (2008). "Myiasis by Lucilia silvarum (Calliphoridae) in amphibian species in boreal Alberta, Canada". Journal of Parasitology. 94 (4): 949–952. doi:10.1645/GE-1373.1. PMID   18576743. S2CID   27740698.
  4. ↑ Eaton, Brian R.; Moenting, Alissa E.; Paszkowski, Cynthia A.; Shpeley, Danny (2008). "Myiasis by Lucilia silvarum (Calliphoridae) in Amphibian Species in Boreal Alberta, Canada". Journal of Parasitology. 94 (4): 949–952. doi:10.1645/GE-1373.1. PMID   18576743. S2CID   27740698.
  5. ↑ John L. Foltz (2004-08-20). "Diptera: Calliphoridae". University of Florida. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  6. ↑ Peter Chew. "Blowfly - Family Calliphoridae". Brisbane Insects and Spiders Home Page. Archived from the original on 2009-10-24. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  7. ↑ Anna M. West. "Myiasis". Stanford University . Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  8. ↑ Bolek, Matthew G and John Janovy Jr.2002. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 38(3):593-603.
  9. ↑ Eaton, Brian R, Allisa E. Moenting, Cynthia A. Paszkowski and Danny Shpeley.2008. Myiasis by Lucilia silvarum(Calliphoridae) in Amphibian Species in Boreal Alberta, Canada. Journal of Parasitology 94(4):949-952.
  10. ↑ Robin Lloyd (2008-11-19). "Maggot therapy gains in popularity". LiveScience.
  11. ↑ Jennifer Wenger (2004-07-20). "Are maggots making a medical comeback?". NIH Record. Archived from the original on 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
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