PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF FORENSICALLY IMPORTANT SCUTTLE FLIES (DIPTERA: PHORIDAE) IN UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA, BANGI

Abstract

Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are diversified insect group of
forensic importance with variety of habitats and feeding habits.
Previous research showed diversity of scuttle flies associated
with decomposing animal were abundant and their life cycles
could likely be used as reference for minimum post mortem
interval (PMI min) in forensic entomology. The objective of this
research was to record and identify forensically importance
scuttle fly species based on their sarcosaprophagous activity
towards decomposed cow’s liver. Baited traps were placed at
three selected locations in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
Bangi, i.e. a secondary forest at Forensic Science Simulation Site,
UKM lake and a pond for a period of 14 days. A total of 158
scuttle flies were collected (♀=153, ♂=5), representing 14
species and 7 genera. Dohrniphora cornuta (Bigot) was abundant
at simulation site and pond while Megaselia scalaris (Loew) was the most frequent species found at the lake. A total of 42 specimens from genus Megaselia, Puliciphora, Spiniphora and Woodiphora could not be named until they are linked with their known males or females. These findings extend the information about the abundance and diversity of forensically important scuttle fly species in Malaysia.