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Kanta W, Limsopatham K, Sukontason KL, Sukontason K, Dujardin JP, Dujardin S, Sanit S. Geometry of posterior larval spiracles to identify medically and forensically important calliphorids in Thailand. Acta Trop 2024; 252:107126. [PMID: 38316241 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Fly identification is the primary step of analysis in forensic entomology. Although morphology and molecular techniques are considered satisfactory methods, some constraints may arise from a financial or even human point of view. Over the past decade, the geometric morphometric approach has been increasingly advocated for the classification and identification of arthropods. This study explored the method for species identification of 800 third-instar larvae of eight blow fly species of medical and forensic importance: Chrysomya chani Kurahashi, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Chrysomya (Ceylonomyia) nigripes Aubertin, Chrysomya pinguis (Walker), Chrysomya (Achoetandrus) rufifacies (Macquart), Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann), Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann), and Lucilia porphyrina (Walker). Based on the posterior spiracles geometry, the cross-validation revealed a relatively high percentage of correct classification in most species, ranking from 86% to 100%. The results of this study confirmed that the geometric morphometric (GM) analysis of posterior spiracles might be utilized as a larva identification tool. Therefore, this GM method represents one way of overcoming difficulties with the identification of blow fly larvae and can support further studies of these flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanida Kanta
- Master of Science Program in Forensic Science, Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Kwankamol Limsopatham
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Kabkaew L Sukontason
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Kom Sukontason
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | | | - Sebastien Dujardin
- INTERTRYP, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, F-34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Sangob Sanit
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
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2
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Oleksa A, Căuia E, Siceanu A, Puškadija Z, Kovačić M, Pinto MA, Rodrigues PJ, Hatjina F, Charistos L, Bouga M, Prešern J, Kandemir İ, Rašić S, Kusza S, Tofilski A. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) wing images: a tool for identification and conservation. Gigascience 2023; 12:giad019. [PMID: 36971293 PMCID: PMC10041535 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giad019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is an ecologically and economically important species that provides pollination services to natural and agricultural systems. The biodiversity of the honey bee in parts of its native range is endangered by migratory beekeeping and commercial breeding. In consequence, some honey bee populations that are well adapted to the local environment are threatened with extinction. A crucial step for the protection of honey bee biodiversity is reliable differentiation between native and nonnative bees. One of the methods that can be used for this is the geometric morphometrics of wings. This method is fast, is low cost, and does not require expensive equipment. Therefore, it can be easily used by both scientists and beekeepers. However, wing geometric morphometrics is challenging due to the lack of reference data that can be reliably used for comparisons between different geographic regions. FINDINGS Here, we provide an unprecedented collection of 26,481 honey bee wing images representing 1,725 samples from 13 European countries. The wing images are accompanied by the coordinates of 19 landmarks and the geographic coordinates of the sampling locations. We present an R script that describes the workflow for analyzing the data and identifying an unknown sample. We compared the data with available reference samples for lineage and found general agreement with them. CONCLUSIONS The extensive collection of wing images available on the Zenodo website can be used to identify the geographic origin of unknown samples and therefore assist in the monitoring and conservation of honey bee biodiversity in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Oleksa
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz 85-090, Poland
| | - Eliza Căuia
- Honeybee Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Institute for Beekeeping Research and Development, Bucharest 013975, Romania
| | - Adrian Siceanu
- Honeybee Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Institute for Beekeeping Research and Development, Bucharest 013975, Romania
| | - Zlatko Puškadija
- Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - Marin Kovačić
- Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia
| | - M Alice Pinto
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança 5300-253, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança 5300-253, Portugal
| | - Pedro João Rodrigues
- Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança 5300-253, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança 5300-253, Portugal
| | - Fani Hatjina
- Department of Apiculture, Institute of Animal Science–Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos ‘DIMITRA’, Nea Moudania 63200, Greece
| | - Leonidas Charistos
- Department of Apiculture, Institute of Animal Science–Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos ‘DIMITRA’, Nea Moudania 63200, Greece
| | - Maria Bouga
- Lab of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens 11855, Greece
| | - Janez Prešern
- Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - İrfan Kandemir
- Ankara University, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Beşevler-Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Slađan Rašić
- Faculty of Ecological Agriculture, EDUCONS University, Sremska Kamenica 21208, Serbia
| | - Szilvia Kusza
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4032, Hungary
| | - Adam Tofilski
- Department of Zoology and Animal Welfare, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow 31-425, Poland
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3
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Szpila K, Johnston NP, Akbarzadeh K, Richet R, Tofilski A. Wing measurements are a possible tool for the identification of European forensically important Sarcophagidae. Forensic Sci Int 2022; 340:111451. [PMID: 36150278 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The flesh flies are a group of insects well known for their forensic importance. Reliable identification of these flies relies on the use of either molecular markers or the morphology of the male genital apparatus. Identification of female flesh flies is more time consuming and less reliable than their male counterparts. This is particularly problematic for forensic entomology practitioners, because female flesh flies are more abundant than males in carrion arthropod assemblages. As such, it is critical that alternative methods for flesh fly identification are established that are equally effective for both sexes. One promising technique is the use of wing measurements, which have been shown to be reliable for the identification of some groups of necrophagous Diptera from several geographical regions. We applied this method to the European Sarcophagidae for the first time, using a dataset of 881 specimens representing 29 species and 5 genera. Species identifications were based on 15 landmarks located at wing vein junctions. We also combined our results with data from previous studies of Calliphoridae and Muscidae which utilised the same methodology, enabling the testing of family level identification using wing morphometrics. Species identifications using wing measurements had varied success. While some species were successfully identified without error, others, particularly from the genus Sarcophaga, were often misclassified. Notably, in several species wing measurements successfully identified both males and females. The results presented here suggest that wing measurements are a promising complementary method to other methods for the identification of necrophagous Sarcophagidae especially in material unsorted at the family level. It can also be used to double check identification performed by a taxonomist using traditional methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Szpila
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Nikolas P Johnston
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, 15 Broadway Ultimo, Sydney 2007, Australia
| | - Kamran Akbarzadeh
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rene Richet
- 16 Grande Rue, 03220, Jaligny-sur-Besbre, France
| | - Adam Tofilski
- Department of Zoology and Animal Welfare, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 31-425 Krakow, Poland
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Rodrigues-Filho SJM, Prado E Castro C, Lopes LF, da Fonseca IP, Rebelo MT. Size does matter: intraspecific geometric morphometric analysis of wings of the blowfly Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Acta Trop 2022; 235:106662. [PMID: 35998679 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Blowflies have forensic, sanitary and veterinary importance, as well as being pollinators, parasitoids and ecological bioindicators. There is still little work with real data and from experiments assessing the relationship between blowflies' morphologic features and environmental and demographic factors. The present work tests whether the variation, in the shape and size, of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) wings is influenced by the following factors: 1) time; 2) temperature; 3) sex and; 4) different types of carcasses (pig, dog/cat and whale). Male and female wings from four different sites collected in six different years were used to obtain wing size and shape of C. albiceps. Analyses between wing shape and the variables tested had low explanatory power, even though they had statistical support. However, it was possible to identify differences in wing shape between males and females, with good returns in sex identification. The comparison between wing size and the variables tested showed that wing size has a negative relationship with temperature, significant differences between sexes, slight variation over time and no influence by carcass types. Furthermore, wing size influenced wing shape. Understanding population-specific characteristics of C. albiceps provide important insights about how the species reacts under specific conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio J M Rodrigues-Filho
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar/Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal; Universidade do Estado do Amapá, Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Avenida Presidente Vargas, 650 - Central, Macapá AP, 68900-070, Brasil.
| | - Catarina Prado E Castro
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Luís Filipe Lopes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Pereira da Fonseca
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (CIISA), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária (AL4AnimalS)
| | - Maria Teresa Rebelo
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar/Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
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Ivorra T, Martínez-Sánchez A, Rojo S. Coexistence and intraguild competition of Chrysomya albiceps and Lucilia sericata larvae: case reports and experimental studies applied to forensic entomology. Acta Trop 2022; 226:106233. [PMID: 34808117 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The larval development of Chrysomya albiceps and Lucilia sericata is a well-known and valuable tool for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). The third instar larvae of Ch. albiceps are facultative predators of the larvae of other necrophagous dipterans, and this behaviour is undoubtedly an important factor to consider. Both species are found together during human autopsies in Spain and other parts of Europe, where they cohabit, so a precise knowledge of their larval coexistence data is essential. The aim of this study is to investigate their coexistence and the intraguild predation of Ch. albiceps on L. sericata under experimental conditions and in real case reports. To analyse intra- and interspecific competition, four densities were used under controlled abiotic conditions [25ºC, 60-70% RH and 12:12 (D:N)]. The experimental data were compared with data corresponding to their coexistence in natural conditions, so annual activity and forensic case reports for both species were studied. The results indicate that the mortality of immature specimens in both species, the preimaginal developmental time, and adult size were affected by competition. In natural conditions, adult coexistence during the spring-summer period was confirmed. The simultaneity of the two species colonising human corpses is frequent in the studied area, with Ch. albiceps being the dominant species, and L. sericata the relevant species for estimating the minimum postmortem interval.
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Limsopatham K, Tanajitaree C, Sanit S, Sukontason K, Somboon P, Amendt J, Feddern N, Sukontason KL. Wing morphometrics as a tool for the identification of forensic important Lucilia spp. (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Acta Trop 2022; 226:106242. [PMID: 34800378 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Blow flies of the genera Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are considered forensically important species across several regions of the world. Due to the similarity of adults, especially females, the usual methods based on morphology or even molecular techniques can experience some limitations; therefore, alternative or supportive tools are required. Recently, the landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis has been applied to discriminate many insects on genus and species level. Herein, we focus on wing morphometric analysis as a tool in classifying five species of Lucilia; three species from Thailand - L. cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830), L. porphyrina (Walker, 1856) and L. sinensis Aubertin, 1933; and two species from Switzerland - L. caesar (Linnaeus, 1758) and L. illustris (Meigen, 1826). Canonical variate analysis of 233 right wings showed four overlapping clusters of L. cuprina, L. sinensis, L. caesar, and L. illustris with one distinct cluster of L. porphyrina. Eighty-eight to 100 percent of correct classification was achieved, with an UPGMA dendrogram analysis revealing clear-cut branch and sub-branch of five species determined. Results from this study suggested that wing morphometric analysis is a useful tool for the identification of adult Lucilia spp.
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The Head of Fannia pusio (Fanniidae: Diptera) as A Novel Source of Morphometric Data for Assessing of Variation Along Geographic and Biological Lines. Zool Stud 2021; 60:e16. [PMID: 34853607 DOI: 10.6620/zs.2021.60-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 is the most diverse genus in the family Fanniidae (Diptera), with 288 species, many of which are include many of sanitary, economic and legal interest. The morphological homogeneity within the genus often makes species determination difficult. The best option for correct identification is to combine molecular and morphological analyses. The variation in the shape of a selection of body characters can be assessed by Geometric Morphometrics using the head as an innovative structure. Sex must be accounted for as a key covariate in this kind of study, since Fannia, as many other Diptera, has a sexually dimorphic head structure, with holoptic males and dicoptic females. Firstly, we analysed a set of Fannia sp. specimens sampled across the Iberian Peninsula (2012-2015), of which Fannia pusio (Wiedemann, 1830) was found to be the most abundant species. Our analyses provide significant morphological information. Fannia pusio exhibits clear intraspecific morphometric variation along an Iberian-wide East-West axis. A similar pattern emerged when comparing a laboratory-bred colony and wild samples.
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Polysulfone/Polyetherimide Ultrafiltration composite membranes constructed on a three-component Nylon-fiberglass-Nylon support for azo dyes removal: Experimental and molecular dynamics simulations. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.126941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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9
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Wing morphometrics for identification of forensically important blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Iberian Peninsula. J Forensic Leg Med 2020; 75:102048. [PMID: 32889332 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2020.102048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Calliphoridae is a family of Diptera of great forensic interest because some of its species belong to the sarcosaprophagous diptera community, as their larvae are necrophagous or necrophilous. In the Iberian Peninsula there are six species that stand out, as they are the first insects to arrive at carrion: Calliphora vicina, Calliphora vomitoria, Lucilia sericata, Lucilia caesar, Chrysomya albiceps and Chrysomya megacephala. To differentiate among these blowflies, we compared the value of using traditional and geometric morphometrics by performing a morphometric analysis of the wings (shape and size). A total of 600 individuals were considered, segregated by species and sex equally. Seventeen landmarks per wing were recognized, and then centroid size and shape analyses were performed using geometric morphometrics, and size using traditional morphometrics, to identify species and sex. The results showed differences in shape among the species and it was found that landmarks 2 to 11 were the most variable, while the landmarks located at the base of the wings were relatively stable. However, according to both traditional and geometric morphometrics, no significant differences were found among species in wing size (Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya megacephala and Lucilia caesar were indistinguishable), but females were larger than males (except for the two Chrysomya species). Our results indicate that the use of geometric morphometrics to analyze wing configuration (shape) is an easy-to-use tool that helps to distinguish among common blowfly species of forensic importance.
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Sanei-Dehkordi A, Soleimani-Ahmadi M, Cheshmposhan A, Akbarzadeh K. Biodiversity of Medically Important Calyptratae Flies (Diptera: Schizophora) in Hospitals in the Northern Coastline of the Persian Gulf, Iran. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:766-771. [PMID: 31788698 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Domestic filth flies play a significant role in the transmission of nosocomial infections and cause nosocomial myiasis in hospitals worldwide. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in five hospitals of the Hormozgan province, of southern Iran. Adult flies were collected by bottle fly traps. Specimens were pinned and morphologically identified using the relevant keys. Species biodiversity indices including Menhinick (M), Shannon-Wiener (H'), Pielou's Evenness (E), and Simpson's diversity (D) were calculated. Totally 2,298 individuals of 18 species of flies belonging to nine genera and four families were collected. Chrysomya megacephala was the most frequent species (37.3%), followed by Chrysoma albiceps (24.8%), Fannia canicularis (5.1%), Musca domestica (4.8%), Sarcophaga aegyptica (3.7%), and 15 other species (24.4%). Our results show a high diversity and abundance of domestic filth flies in the studied hospitals. Relatively similar data derived from various hospitals in this study can show the uniformity in sanitary conditions of hospitals. On the other hand, estimation of diversity indices alarmed for potential of dominant species in fly communities in hospital environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Sanei-Dehkordi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Faculty of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Moussa Soleimani-Ahmadi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Faculty of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Abdolrahim Cheshmposhan
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Faculty of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Kamran Akbarzadeh
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Ghods St, Enghelab St., Tehran, Iran
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López-García J, Angell C, Martín-Vega D. Wing morphometrics for the identification of Nearctic and Palaearctic Piophilidae (Diptera) of forensic relevance. Forensic Sci Int 2020; 309:110192. [PMID: 32113176 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The Piophilidae (Diptera) are a family comprising about 80 species, several of them of high economic and forensic relevance. An unequivocal species identification is crucial for designing effective control measures or to provide reliable estimations of the minimum post mortem interval. However, the identification may sometimes not be possible, either because the diagnostic morphological characters are not easily observable or very fragile, or because of a poor DNA quality and/or unavailability of reference molecular signatures. In the recent years, the use of wing morphometric techniques has emerged as a powerful tool for the identification of different families of forensically important Diptera. The present study applies, for the first time, this technique to the identification of 11 Piophilidae species of forensic relevance in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions, as well as to the discrimination of sexes, distinct geographical populations and, in the case of the dimorphic species Prochyliza nigrimana (Meigen), seasonal morphs. Wing shape variation was analysed using 14 landmarks located at wing vein junctions and a cross-variation analysis was used to test the reliability of identifications. The present results demonstrate that wing shape can be used to identify most species with relatively high success, whereas cross-validation analyses indicated that discrimination between sexes, populations or morphs was less effective, even if significant differences were observed in every comparison. We conclude that wing morphometrics can be a powerful identification tool that might be used in combination with other methods in order to achieve accurate and reliable species identifications-independently of the sex, geographic origin or colour variation of the samples-even with those piophilid species that have been object of frequent misidentifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime López-García
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Christopher Angell
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Daniel Martín-Vega
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Policiales, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
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