Forensically important fly maggots in a floating corpse: The first case report in Thailand

Abstract

The authors report herein the entomological evidence from the first documented forensic floating corpse in Thailand. The male remains of unknown name and age was found in the waterside of a reservoir in Lampang province, northern Thailand. Approximately 13-16 wounds resulting from sharp-edged material were found on the body. Numerous third-instar of blow flies Chrysomya megacephala (F.) and Chrysomya rufifacies Macquart (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were collected, and the entomological evidence of the latter species could be used to estimate ≈ 7 days of the postmortem interval. This is the first report of C. megacephala as forensic important fly species in Thailand. Additional research is needed to ascertain the effects of water on the succession and development of both fly species subsequently coming to associate with a corpse so treated in Thailand.