Cynomya mortuorum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cynomya mortuorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Diptera Family: Calliphoridae Genus: Cynomya Species: C. mortuorum
Binomial name
Cynomya mortuorum (Linnaeus, 1761)

Cynomya mortuorum is a calliphorid fly. The larvae feed on carrion and decaying animal matter. It is an important fly in forensic entomology. The only common name in English is the occasionally used "fly of the dead" (Totenfliege in German).

C. mortuorum is a deep blue-green shining metallic fly with yellowish face and jowls, with a body length of 8–15 mm. It lays its eggs on carrion, where also the larvae develop. The development lasts approx 38 days. In the absence of carrion excrement provides a food source. It lives on woodland edges, meadows and other places with flowers in Europe and Asia ^[1]. The adults feed on pollen, and are found from May to September.

[edit] Forensic case history

Fifteen to twenty dead third instar larvae of Cynomya mortuorum were located in the mouth of a human corpse in May. Data on the seasonal distribution of this species suggested a time of death some 7 months prior to the discovery, ie. in October of the previous year. The entomological data was consistent with the other evidence known to the police. Forensic science international(Forensic sci. int.) ISSN 0379-0738.

[edit] Sources

Haupt, J./Haupt, H.: Fliegen und Mücken – Beobachtung, Lebensweise, Augsburg 1998 Honomichl, K./Bellmann, H.: Biologie und Ökologie der Insekten; CD-Rom, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart 1994

1. ^ West Palaearctic Distribution