Application of Aldrichina grahami (Diptera, Calliphoridae) for forensic investigation in central-south China

Insect larvae and adult insects found on human corpses provide important clues for the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI). We conducted postmortem interval (PMI) experiments in Changsha County by disposing animal carcasses for 3 consecutive years (2007 to 2009). In February 2010, a male corpse was found at wilderness of Changsha County. The larvae found on the corpse were identified only to be Aldrichina grahami (Aldrich, 1930) by morphologic observation and were then confirmed by mitochondrial DNA sequence. A PMI of 320+/-10 hours was concluded for the human body, based on the experimentally obtained entomological evidence. According to the murderer's statement, the elapsed time since death was calculated to have been 308 hours. In this case, the PMI was estimated successfully and it was almost precise. The presence of the only species is related to the climatic and micro-environmental conditions in the urban habitat of Changsha, central-south China. It would appear that the knowledge of local fauna is very useful in forensic investigations.