Forensic entomological specimens received by the Unit of Medical
Entomology, IMR., from hospitals and the police in Malaysia in the last 3 decades
(1972 – 2002) are reviewed. A total of 448 specimens were received. From these,
538 identifications were made with the following results: Eighteen species of
cyclorrphaga flies were identified consisting of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius)
215 cases (47.99%), Ch. rufifacies (Masquart) 132 (29.46%), Ch. villeneuvi Patton
10 (2.23%), Ch. nigripes Aubertin 7 (1.56%), Ch. bezziana Villeneuve 4 (0.89%), Ch.
pinguis (Walker) 1 (0.22%), Chrysomya sp. 47 (10.49%), Sarcophaga sp. 28
(6.25%), Lucilia sp. 21 (4.69%), Hermetia sp. 15 (3.35%), He. illucens (Linnaeus) 1
(0.22%), Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann) 3 (0.67%), Hemipyrellia sp. 2 (0.45%),
Ophyra spinigera 1 (0.22%), Ophyra sp. 6 (1.34%), Calliphora sp. 24 (5.36%),
Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp) 1 (0.22%) and Eristalis sp. 1 (0.22%). Other non – fly
insect specimens are Pthirus pubis (Linnaeus) (Pubic louse) 2 (0.45%) and
Coleoptera (Beetles) 1 (0.22%). Ch. megacep hala and Ch. rufifacies were the
commonest species found in cadavers from different ecological habitats. Sy.
nudiseta is an uncommon species, thus far found only on cadavers from indoors.
Sy. nudiseta is reported for the second time in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 329
cases (73.44%) had a single fly infestation, 109 cases (24.33%) had double fly
infestation and 10 cases (2.23%) had triple fly infestation. Five cases (1.12%) had
eggs and 3 cases (0.67%) had larval stages that were not identifiable. No arthropods
were retrieved from cadavers in 8 cases (1.79%). In conclusion, although large
number of fly species were found on human cadavers, the predominant species are
still those of Chrysomya.