1Kelkar Education Trust's V. G. Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mithagar Road, Mulund (East), 400 081, Mumbai, India
2Government College of Arts and Science, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, 431004, Maharashtra, India
3Mizoram Central University, Aizwal, Mizoram796004, India
*Email: sarikaabansode@gmail.com (corresponding author):
Online published on 26 February, 2026.
This study focuses on identifying forensically significant Calliphorid fly species using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For proper species identification, scanning electron microphotographs of the first, second, and third instar larvae of C. megacephala and C. rufifacies are obtained to identify the morphometric and micromorphological traits and differences using a JEOL-JSM840A scanning electron microscope. The pattern of the anterior field, the number of anterior and posterior spiracles of the larvae, the number of tubercles, the structure of the knob, the spiracular hairs, and the median sacrum, integument, and body spines were examined and presented as identification keys in the current study. This pioneering study introduces SEM-based identification keys, a breakthrough in the field.
Calliphoridae, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya rufifacies, Forensic, Micrographs, Papillae, Tubercles, Forensic entomology, Diptera
