Which blowfly genus is the primary coloniser of human remains in tropical Indian conditions, arriving within minutes to hours of death, and is most important for early PMI estimation?

• A Calliphora vicina (bluebottle fly)
• B Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya bezziana (Oriental latrine flies) ✓
• C Musca domestica (house fly)
• D Lucilia sericata (green bottle fly) — exclusively found in temperate climates

Explanation

In tropical and subtropical India, Chrysomya megacephala (Oriental latrine fly) and Chrysomya bezziana are the predominant primary colonisers of human remains, arriving within minutes to a few hours of death to oviposit. Calliphora vicina is more characteristic of temperate European climates. Musca domestica does visit remains but is a facultative rather than obligate necrobiont. Lucilia sericata does occur in India but is less dominant than Chrysomya species in tropical conditions.

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.