Eclosion
Definition
The emergence of the adult fly from the puparium. In rearing, the date of eclosion is recorded as the end point of the developmental timeline. The adult is then identified and retained as a voucher specimen.
- Event
- Emergence of adult fly from the puparium
- Use in casework
- End point of developmental timeline in rearing
- Follow-up step
- Adult identification and voucher retention
Common questions
Why is the date of eclosion recorded rather than only the date of collection?+
Rearing collected larvae or pupae through to eclosion confirms species identity, since many immature stages cannot be reliably identified to species, and the eclosion date anchors the known developmental duration used to back-calculate a minimum time since colonisation.
Why keep the emerged adult as a voucher specimen?+
A retained voucher lets another examiner independently verify the species identification later, which supports the reliability of the minimum post-mortem interval estimate if the finding is challenged in court.
Related terms
- Development Table
- A species-specific reference dataset giving the accumulated temperature (degree hours or degree days above a threshold) required to complete each life-stage transition....
- Isomorphen Diagram
- A contour plot of the same axes where each contour connects all (temperature, age) combinations that produce the same morphological developmental stage...
- Minimum Base Temperature
- The temperature below which blow fly larval development effectively stops. This threshold varies by species: Lucilia sericata is typically around 9 degrees...
- Pupariation
- The process by which the third-instar larva contracts and hardens its own cuticle to form the puparial case (puparium) that encloses the...
- Rearing Medium
- The food source placed in the rearing container to support larval development. Raw beef liver is the standard; it provides protein, moisture,...