Responses ofLucilia sericataMeigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to Cadaveric Volatile Organic Compounds*

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Abstract
Abstract: Flies of the Calliphoridae Family are the most forensically important insects because of their abundance on the decedent during the first minutes following death. Necrophagous insects are attracted at a distance by a decomposing body, through the use of volatile chemical cues. We tested the possible attractive role of some volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) released by decaying cadavers, on male and female ofLucilia sericataMeigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Two complementary approaches were used. Electroantennography (EAG) allowed identifying the semiochemicals that are detected by the olfactory system ofL. sericata. Dose–response tests with EAG showed that dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) and butan‐1‐ol elicited the highest responses. Behavioral assays showed that, among the VOCs tested, DMDS and butan‐1‐ol are attractive forL. sericata, while the other VOCs are repulsive or do not cause any behavior. Our results may have potential implications in a better understanding of attractiveness of blowflies toward a corpse.

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