Blowfly maggot feeding, SEM

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Blowfly maggot feeding, SEM

Blowfly maggot feeding. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Calliphora vicina blowfly maggot (larva) feeding on liver tissue. A blowfly lays its eggs on dead bodies and this behaviour is studied by forensic entomologists. This maggot is buried in its meal, breathing through holes about its anus (yellow). A Calliphora blowfly maggot can grow quickly, developing from egg to pupa in 2-3 weeks. The growth rate depends upon temperature, so the size of a maggot and the temperature can allow the time of death to be estimated. Other clues from blowfly maggots include traces of drugs or poison in the maggots, ingested from the dead body. Magnification unknown

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

Media ID 6461482

© VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Anus Blow Fly Buried Burrowing Corpse Crime Research Dead Body Death Decay Decaying Decomposition Eating Feeding Flesh Forensic Entomology Forensics Insecta Larva Liver Maggot Tissue Calliphora Vicina

EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the intricate feeding behavior of a blowfly maggot, providing a glimpse into the fascinating world of forensic entomology. The image showcases a Calliphora vicina blowfly maggot, adorned with vibrant colors through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as it feasts on liver tissue. Blowflies are known to lay their eggs on deceased bodies, making them crucial subjects for forensic investigations. In this snapshot, the maggot is seen buried within its meal while relying on tiny breathing holes near its anus, depicted in striking yellow hues. Remarkably swift in growth, these maggots can transform from egg to pupa within just 2-3 weeks. Temperature plays a significant role in their development rate and size, enabling experts to estimate time of death by analyzing these factors. Blowfly maggots also hold valuable clues about the circumstances surrounding death. They may carry traces of drugs or poison ingested from the decaying body they inhabit. This microscopic view offers an unparalleled perspective into their burrowing nature and highlights their vital role in crime research and forensic entomology. Displayed against a backdrop of decay and decomposition, this photograph encapsulates both the beauty and macabre aspects found within nature's intricate cycle of life and death. It serves as a testament to the invaluable contributions made by scientific exploration in unraveling mysteries hidden beneath our very noses.

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