Honors College Theses
Publication Date
2017
Major
Biology (B.S.B.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Edward B. Mondor
Abstract
Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are usually the first insects to colonize human remains. By determining the time of colonization, a postmortem interval (PMI), or “time of death”, can be estimated. To develop more accurate PMI estimates, it is important for forensic entomologists to understand the cues that Blow flies use to locate vertebrate remains. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Blow flies use visual cues, in addition to olfactory cues, to locate carrion. Two colors of fly traps, clear and green, were constructed and chicken gizzard used as bait. Three Blow fly species exhibited a significant preference for clear traps over green traps. Although these results were unexpected, it provides clear evidence that multiple Blow fly species use visual cues to locate vertebrate remains.
Recommended Citation
Oke, Oluwadamilola Olufunso, "Blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Responses to Different Colors of Baited Traps" (2017). Honors College Theses. 230.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/230
Included in
Biology Commons, Entomology Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, Medicine and Health Sciences Commons
