Larissa Thans Carneiro

The New World screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, represents a major threat to livestock production in several regions of the Americas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of three trap types for C. hominivorax surveillance. The study was conducted in Uruguay (32° S), in area with a known natural presence of C. hominivorax. NZI, NZI-M (a modified version designed to optimize capture efficiency), and vertical sticky traps (VST) were used, all baited with baited with Swormlure-4 (SL-4). A Latin square design was applied, testing each trap at four sampling sites (forest edge, near watercourses, pastureland, and near livestock corrals), rotating twice through each site over three consecutive days. This design was repeated across the four seasons of the year. Sampling points were separated by more than 1,200 m to ensure independence of captures. A total of 96 blowflies (Calliphoridae) were collected, of which 15 were identified as C. hominivorax (15.6%). Seven, five, and three screwworm flies were captured using NZI, NZI-M, and VST traps, respectively. C. hominivorax was captured during autumn (11/15) and summer (4/15), with no differences among sampling sites. The NZI and NZI-M traps baited with SL-4 showed potential as effective tools for C. hominivorax surveillance in comparison of VST trap, allowing the recovery of well-preserved specimens suitable for taxonomic and molecular identification.

This study investigated the effects of continuous refrigeration (4°C ± 2°C and 50% ± 5% RH) on the development and survival of immature stages (eggs, first, second, and third instar larvae, and pupae) of four forensically important blowfly species ( Chrysomya megacephala , Chrysomya putoria , Hemilucilia segmentaria , and Lucilia cuprina ) compared to a control group (27°C ± 2°C and 50% ± 5% RH). Groups of approximately 500 individuals at each stage were exposed to refrigeration and the control treatment, with periodic verifications to assess development and survival. Statistical analysis (two‐way ANOVA and Šidák posthoc test) revealed significant differences ( p < .0001) in development time and survival between the groups. Eggs and first instar larvae did not survive longer than 36 h under refrigeration. Third instar larvae showed greater resistance, with L. cuprina surviving for up to 612 h, entering quiescence without molting. The results highlight the significant impact of refrigeration on the development of these warm‐climate species, warning against potential imprecisions in time of colonization (TOC) estimations and, consequently, in postmortem interval (PMI) if refrigeration effects are not considered. The research emphasizes the need for species‐specific data and caution when applying linear development models in forensic entomology, especially in cases involving refrigeration.

Os fungos quando crescem em determinados alimentos, possuem a capacidade de deteriorá-los produzindo metabólicos naturais chamados de micotoxinas. A contaminação desses alimentos acarreta diversos problemas desde o desperdício da matéria prima aos efeitos nocivos da ingestão desses alimentos, além do potencial carcinogênico, teratogênico e mutagênico que tais micotoxinas possuem. A Bixa orellana, planta conhecida popularmente como urucum, é amplamente utilizada desde a cultura indígena à indústria têxtil, alimentícia (produção de colorau) e na produção de remédios. A cor característica das sementes se dá pela presença de carotenóides, pigmentantes presentes na natureza, como a bixina, que podem desempenhar um grande papel nas ações fisiológicas auxiliando nas interações anti-inflamatórias e auxiliando nos processos lipídicos e cardíacos, além de apresentar propriedades antibacteriana e antifúngica. O presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar a análise do crescimento fúngico em sementes de Urucum, isolando e identificando os agentes infectantes. Utilizaram-se sementes de Urucum vendidas a varejo, separadas por tratamento: semente inteira não lavada, moída não lavada, inteira lavada com hipoclorito 2,5%, moída lavada com hipoclorito 2,5%. Tais sementes foram cultivadas em meio de cultivo DRCB com acompanhamento de crescimento de 24 em 24 horas. A identificação das espécies fúngicas foi dada através da utilização do método de microcultivo em lâmina. As estruturas foram classificadas em: hifas septadas ou asseptadas, hialinas ou demáceas e sua respectiva estrutura de reprodução. A determinação de espécie foi feita através da análise da estrutura de reprodução seguindo a chave de identificação. Os principais fungos encontrados foram: Aspergillus flavus e Aspergillus niger. Conclui-se que, a contaminação fúngica nos grãos de urucum está presente, tanto em amostras in natura quanto sanitizadas, salientando-se a importância de uma vigilância sanitária mais abrangente e métodos eficazes na conservação e higienização dos grãos.

Forensic Entomology uses arthropods to aid in legal investigations. This study checked the biological response of Chrysomya putoria pupae to submersion in fresh water for up to 6 d, evaluating the critical submersion time, survival rate, and development time of the flies. Adults were collected using fish baits in two typical traps. Seven hundred and twenty fourth-generation pupae with 2 d of development were used and separated into submergence intervals: 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h. An additional 120 pupae were used as a control. Each treatment was done in triplicate, consisting of 40 pupae distributed in four tulle-sealed test tubes containing 10 pupae each. All tubes of each treatment were co-adhered in test tube racks and were submerged in mineral water in a container with constant oxygenation, except those of the control group, which were not submerged. The tubes were removed from the water according to their respective submersion interval, until 144 h was completed. The control group had a survival rate of 90%, while the 24-h treatment had 85% and the 48-h treatment had 35.8%. The critical submersion time for pupae was 72 h, with 100% mortality by 144 h. The average development time for the control group was 3.2 d, while the 24- and 48-h treatments developed in 4.3 and 6.3 d, respectively. The longer the individuals were submerged, the lower the survival rate was, while the development time increased. The data obtained in this study have potential in applications to estimate the interval of submersion of a cadaver.

This is the first study in Brazil that monitored the nocturnal oviposition behavior of Chrysomya putoria, a species of forensic importance, in order to verify if individuals of this species oviposit at night. Groups of 10 flies (5 male and 5 female) distributed in ten cages were kept in a fume hood and submitted to total darkness or exposed to artificial light for eleven consecutive hours through four experimental conditions in the laboratory. Two verifications were made to see if the females oviposited in the offered substrate of about 20 g of chicken gizzard per cage. Verification 1 occurred at 09:00 pm in the evening experiments and at 09:00 am in the daytime experiments. Verification 2 occurred at 05:00 am in the night experiments and at 05:00 pm in the daytime experiments. Each experiment lasted 5 d. C. putoria laid eggs at night (with or without light) and the quantity of eggs was significantly similar to those produced during the day under natural light or in total darkness. Only the amount of eggs produced during the day in the absence of light was considerably greater than in the typical daytime period. The females oviposited in greater quantity in the nights when the average temperature was between 23 and 24.8°C and relative humidity above 81%. Ovipositions only occurred at temperatures above 21°C and humidity above 56% during the day. Finally, it is necessary that more evaluations on the effect of variables on blowfly behavior are performed to better understand nocturnal oviposition.