D3108: A literature review on the effects of heavy metals on the development of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Pollution is caused by the introduction of hazardous substances into the environment and it is a phenomenon that can cause unwanted changes in the physical, chemical and biological properties of different habitats. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, mercury and others, are naturally occurring non degradable elements which can accumulate in the environment and in living organisms and can have a significant impact on their physiological functions. Studies have shown that heavy metals also influence the development and morphology of insects. Insects are the most abundant organisms on earth and play a major role in different ecosystems. They help in the dispersion of organic matter and are an important part of different ecological processes. Forensic entomology focuses on the use of arthropods in legal investigations. Shortly after death, a corpse is quickly colonized by several insect families; blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are among the first colonizers and are therefore often used for the estimation of the minimum post-mortem interval or mPMI. Since larvae feed on the corpse, any xenobiotic present in the remains, including heavy metals, can be acquired by the maggots; these substances can influence their development and, in turn, can alter the estimation of the mPMI. Here we will present a literature review of the analyses that have been conducted on the detection of heavy metals in blow flies; we will also include studies that have focused on the alterations of developmental rate, mass, length and mortality rate caused by heavy metals on calliphorid flies.