Study of life cycle of Blow fly - Glossina (D)

Practicals of Forensic Zoology
By
Dr. Nutan D. Rathod
Head, Department of Zoology,
KCE’s Moolji Jaitha (Autonomous) College, Jalgaon

1. Title : Study of life cycle of Blow fly - Glossina (D) Dr. Nutan D. Rathod Head, Department of Zoology, KCE’s Moolji Jaitha (Autonomous) College, Jalgaon

2. Objective To study the developmental stages in the life cycle of the blow fly ( Glossina ) Understand its forensic and medical importance

3. Introduction to Glossina (Tsetse Fly) Glossina belongs to the order Diptera Commonly known as tsetse fly (not a true blow fly) Vector for Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness) Found in tropical Africa

4. Life Cycle Overview

5. Life Cycle Overview The life cycle is holometabolous (complete metamorphosis) Stages: Egg (inside female) Larva Pupa Adult

6. Egg Stage Glossina is viviparous – eggs hatch inside the female Female nourishes larva internally No external egg-laying

7. Larval Stage A single third- instar larva is deposited on moist soil Larva quickly burrows into soil This stage lasts only a few hours

8. Pupal Stage Larva transforms into a pupa inside a hardened shell ( puparium ) Lasts 20–30 days depending on temperature No feeding occurs

9. Adult Stage Adult fly emerges from pupa Reaches sexual maturity in a few days Feeds on blood (both male and female) Can live several weeks

10. Forensic and Medical Importance Glossina transmits Trypanosoma brucei (African sleeping sickness) Not typically used in forensic entomology like true blow flies ( Lucilia , Calliphora ) Understanding life cycle helps in disease control

11. Differences from Blow Flies Feature Glossina (Tsetse) Blow fly ( Lucilia , etc ) Reproduction Viviparous Oviparous (lays eggs) Habitat Tropical Africa World wide Forensic Role Limited Strong (used in PMI estimation) Medical importance High (disease vector) Low