The study of blowfly (Diptera, Calliphoridae) biodiversity and distribution is crucial for forensic investigations involving cadavers. Abiotic and biotic factors, such as seasonality and habitat type, have significant impacts on blowfly populations. However, few forensic entomology studies have been conducted in South Korea, particularly the Gyeongsangnam-do region. To address this, in this study, an extensive year-long survey was conducted to analyze the compositions, habitat preferences, distribution, and seasonal abundance of forensically relevant blowflies in urban and forested habitats in Gyeongsangnam-do, utilizing mouse carcass-baited traps set for 48 h each month. A total of 3,478 adult blowflies were recorded, encompassing six genera and 14 species, with a noted absence of specimens during the winter months. The predominant species was Lucilia porphyrina, accounting for 37.1% of the total sample, followed by Chrysomya pinguis (27.5%), Lucilia sericata (7.6%), and Lucilia illustris (7.1%). The species composition was consistent across all surveyed regions; however, seasonal variation in species diversity was evident, with a peak in spring and decline in summer. Notably, certain species exhibited clear preferences for either urban (Calliphora calliphoroides and L. sericata) or forested habitats (L. porphyrina and Ch. pinguis). This pioneering study elucidates the diverse blowfly communities in Gyeongsangnam-do, highlighting significant seasonal and habitat-dependent variations.

Triceratopyga, is a common and synanthropic genus of medical and forensic significance in eastern Asia which have includes only one species, Triceratopyga calliphoroides. In this study we are reporting the complete mitogenome of the only member of the genus Triceratopyga. The structure of the compete mitogenome is similar with the common ancester fly mitogenome. The size of the mitogenome is 16,529 bp. This is the longest mitogenome recorded from the family Calliphoridae. Although the size of mitogenome is longer than previous records, structure and gene positions are identical with ancestral insect genome.

Calliphora is a genus from the family Calliphoridae, which includes blow flies and bottle flies. Calliphora flies are one of the most entomologically important fly species because of their relative time of arrival and colonization to animal carcasses. Until now there are only three complete mitochondrial genome recorded from the genus. In this study we added a new complete mitochondrial genome record from the species Calliphora lata. Although genome structures and gene orientations of the four Calliphora flies mitochondrial genome are identical. The size and nucleotide composition of the genomes are slightly different.

Rearing media were selected for the production of sterile larvae of greenbottle blowfly, Phaenicia (=Lucilia) sericata (Meigen) which is widely used in maggot therapy. Eight media available in the market were used in this study. Egg hatchability was not different among the media. Survivorship of the larvae was higher in blood agar (BA), sabouraud dextrose agar, and brucella blood agar than the others. A higher content (20~40%) of sheep blood in BA and chocolate agar increased the survivorship of larvae. The eggs and the early 3rd larvae could be stored for 12 days at 8℃ and for 15 days at 6℃ without decrease in hatchability and larval survivorship, respectively.

A possible rapid biodegradation of abandoned livestock was tested by using the dead pig and chicken. The dead pig (36 ㎏) was completely decomposed after 23 days of placement in the open field during June 2007. When the door of a cage in which a dead chicken (3.4 ㎏) was placed was opened, a lot of flies were attracted to the chicken and layed eggs on the chicken. As the result the chicken was decomposed down to 0.6 ㎏ after 6 days of placement in the open field, On the other hand when the door was closed, the decomposition was very slow. The chicken weighed 3.0 ㎏ even after 6 days. An experiment conducted during October 2007 showed that decomposition speed depended on the number of inoculated flies. When 50 pairs of Lucilia sericata flies were inoculated to 3.2 ㎏ chicken, it was decomposed down to 1.0 ㎏ after 22 days in the field. However, when 200 female and 100 male flies were inoculated, the 3.4 ㎏ chicken was decomposed to 0.8 ㎏ after 11 days in the field. A 10,858 pupae (371.2 g) was produced from the latter chicken. These pupae may possibly be used as a feed for fish and fowl. From these results it is considered that further research is needed to commercialize the blow flies for the rapid decomposition of an abandoned livestock of diverse size under diverse environment.