The Black Soldier FlyHermetia illucens(Diptera: Stratiomyidae) As a Potential Measure of Human Postmortem Interval: Observations and Case Histories

Synanthropic flies, particularly calliphorids, are initiators of carrion decomposition and, as such, are the primary and most accurate forensic indicators of time of death. The relevant biology and forensic applications of the egg, larva, pupa, and young adult are discussed for various species, with emphasis on thermal history and age markers.