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Blowfly laying eggs, SEM

Blowfly laying eggs, SEM


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Blowfly laying eggs, SEM

Blowfly laying eggs. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a female Lucilia sp. blowfly laying her eggs (lower left). A blowfly lays its eggs on dead bodies. This behaviour is studied by forensic entomologists. A blowfly detects a dead body by the odour of decomposition, and can arrive at a corpse minutes after death and lay up to 300 eggs. The decaying flesh is food for the maggots (fly larvae) that hatch from the eggs within 24 hours. These two-millimetre-long eggs are laid in patches around moist orifices such as the nose, ears and eyes, as well as open wounds. Fresh and unhatched blowfly eggs will indicate a very recent time of death. Magnification unknown

Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations

Media ID 6460481

© VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Blow Fly Crime Research Death Decay Decomposition Eggs Forensic Entomology Forensics Insecta Laying Ovipositor Re Production Reproducing Reproductive Ovipositing


EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the intricate process of a blowfly laying its eggs, showcasing the wonders of nature in stunning detail. In this coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM), we witness a female Lucilia sp. blowfly carefully depositing her eggs on what appears to be a decaying surface. Blowflies are notorious for their unique behavior of laying eggs on dead bodies, making them subjects of great interest for forensic entomologists. These remarkable insects possess an acute sense of smell that allows them to detect the odour of decomposition, enabling them to arrive at a corpse within minutes after death. Astonishingly, they can lay up to 300 eggs during this time. The two-millimetre-long blowfly eggs showcased in this image are strategically placed around moist orifices such as the nose, ears, eyes, and open wounds. This strategic positioning ensures that once hatched within 24 hours, the fly larvae or maggots will have immediate access to their primary food source - decaying flesh. Forensic researchers rely on fresh and unhatched blowfly eggs as crucial indicators for determining the time since death occurred. By studying these minute details under magnification (exact magnification unknown), scientists gain valuable insights into crime scenes and aid in solving complex cases through forensic entomology. This extraordinary photograph not only highlights the reproductive cycle and survival strategies employed by these fascinating creatures but also serves as a reminder of how interconnected all forms of life truly are – even in processes as macabre as decay and reproduction.

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