Development of Forensically Important Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and Intra-Puparial Age Estimation Utilizing Multiple Methods at Constant and Fluctuating Temperatures

Abstract

Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) has the potential to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). Development data and intra-puparial age estimation are significant for PMImin estimation. Previous research has focused on constant temperatures, although fluctuating temperatures are a more real scenario at a crime scene. The current study examined the growth patterns of S. peregrina under constant (25.75 °C) and fluctuating temperatures (18–36 °C; 22–30 °C). Furthermore, differentially expressed genes, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and cuticular hydrocarbons of S. peregrina during the intra-puparial period were used to estimate age. The results indicated that S. peregrina at fluctuating temperatures took longer to develop and had a lower pupariation rate, eclosion rate, and pupal weight than the group at constant temperatures did. Moreover, we found that six DEG expression profiles and ATR-FTIR technology, CHCs detection methods, and chemometrics can potentially estimate the intra-puparial age of S. peregrina at both constant and fluctuating temperatures. The findings of the study support the use of S. peregrina for PMImin estimation and encourage the use of entomological evidence in forensic practice.