AN INVENTORY OF NECROPHAGOUS FLIES FROM INDIA
. OISHIK KAR
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, India.
ATANU NASKAR *
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, India.
DEBDEEP PRAMANIK
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, India.
KOUSTAV MUKHERJEE
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, India.
SAIKAT SARKAR
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, India.
ARKA MUKHERJEE
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, India.
DEBJANI GHOSH
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, India.
JAYITA SENGUPTA
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, India.
DHRITI BANERJEE
Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
India has experienced an increase in violent murder cases in recent years. In 2021, there were over 29 thousand murders reported across India. Furthermore, more than 55 thousand attempted murder cases were filed in the country that year. A consistent increase in attempted murder cases was seen over the years till 2017. The reasons for death have been elucidated using necrophagous fly data in recent years. Forensic entomology focuses on the close bond between insects and corpses in addition to the use of insects in medicolegal investigations and as well as necrophagous flies play a crucial role in the decay of corpses. A checklist of necrophagous flies from India is hence provided. A total of 349 species belonging to 56 genera under 16 families are documented in this list along with their details of distribution. This is the first checklist of necrophagous flies from India which gives the complete scenario of the diversity of such flies from this megadiverse country. This checklist might serve as a new source of data on criminal cases and wildlife poaching in India.
Keywords: Diptera, checklist, nutrient-recycling, diversity, decomposition, forensic entomology, carcass