New records of three closely identical species of Megaselia Rondani (DIPTERA: PHORIDAE) from Bangi, Selangor, peninsular Malaysia

Megaselia nigella Beyer, 1960, Megaselia scabra Schmitz, 1926 and Megaselia shiyiluae Disney, 1995 were described for the first time from Bangi, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. All three species were collected from baited white pan traps with decomposed beef liver at a secondary forest of Forensic Science Simulation Site, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, Selangor. In the laboratory, the phorid specimens were dissected and mounted on microscope slides for species identification. Megaselia nigella, M. scabra and M. shiyiluae looked almost similar from gross examination, based on their small, dark bodies, short costal veins in both sexes and short anal tubes of the hypopygia in males. However, these species can be distinguished, among others, according to the disposition of bristles on frons in both sexes. The discovery of these three species brings the total number of Megaselia from Peninsular Malaysia to 34. The results can be used as precursors to further understand the diversity of Phoridae from this region

A Review of Forensic Entomology Cases at Ipoh Hospital and Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for the Year 2003

Forensic entomology was utilized to determine the postmortem interval of eleven forensic cases sentfor autopsy examination at Ipoh Hospital and Hospital University Kebangsaan Malaysia between of Januaryto December 2003. Sixth species of sarcosaprophagous flies: Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya rufifacies,Chrysomya villeneuvi, Chrysomya nigripes, Synthesiomya nudiseta and a sarcophagid fly were found amongthe maggot specimens received by the Forensic Entomology Laboratory, Department of Parasitology &Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Those maggots were collected from dead bodiesfound among others in wrapped in gunny bags, around water tank, hanged with black nylon clothes, insidehome, beside road, drowning in lombong and an estate. Ch. megacephala was the main species found in eightcases examined. Postmortem Interval (PMI) estimated from the cases varied from one day to 10 days

Forensic entomology of high-rise buildings in Malaysia: Three case reports

Abstract. The distributions of flies are not only confined to ground level but can also be at higher altitudes. Here, we report three forensic cases involving dipterans in high-rise buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Case 1 involved a corpse of adult female found at the top floor of a fifteen-story apartment. Case 2 dealt with a body of a 75-year-old female discovered in a bedroom on the eleventh floor of an eighteen-story building, while Case 3 was a 52-year-old male found in his fifth floor shop house. Interestingly, entomological analysis revealed that all corpses were infested with similar Dipterans: Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae), Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp) (Diptera: Muscidae) and sarcophagid (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). The first two species were commonly associated with corpses found indoors at ground level. We noted the additional occurrence of blowflies Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Chrysomya rufifacies Macquart (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae in Case 2 and Case 3, respectively. Findings from this study are significant as they demonstrate that certain groups of fly can locate dead bodies even in high-rise buildings. Forensic entomofauna research on corpses found at high elevation is scarce and our study has highlighted the peculiarity of the fly species involved in Malaysia

Indoor decomposition study in Malaysia with special reference to the scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae)

AbstractScuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are a diversified insect group of forensic importance. Their frequent presence on human corpses indoors and in concealed environments can be the sole indicators to estimate the minimum post mortem interval (PMImin). However, bionomics of scuttle flies on decomposing animal carcasses are rarely documented indoors. The objective of this research is to observe and document the occurrence of scuttle flies on decomposing animal carcass placed inside a portable cabin maintained at room temperature (≈25.0°C) in Bangi, Malaysia. This study was conducted in two rounds for a period of 40-day each and samplings were carried out in different intervals. Adult scuttle flies were aspirated directly from the carcass and preserved in 70% ethanol. Their larvae and pupae were reared until adult stage to facilitate identification. Megaselia scalaris (Loew), Megaselia spiracularis (Schmitz) and Dohrniphora cornuta (Bigot) were the scuttle flies found on the carcasses with M. scalaris being the earliest and dominant to colonize the body. This cosmopolitan species proved to be the best indicator to estimate PMImin indoor but in the increased presence of other fly species, it might be relegated to a secondary role. The scuttle flies were also found to coexist with other dipterans of forensic importance in an indoor environment, mainly Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). This information expands the knowledge on the bionomics of scuttle flies on decomposing animal remains indoors