Forensic entomology in Malaysia

Researches relating to forensic entomology in Malaysia include retrospective compilation of the larval species recovered from corpses referred to major hospitals (Hamid et al., 2003; Kumara et al., 2010) and to the Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur (Lee et al., 2004) apart from the following experimental studies.  Ecologically, Omar et al. (2003b) studied the synanthropic index of flies in Malaysia and identified seven species as hemisynanthropes and the highest level being C. megacephala.  Six monkeys were studied in two seasons for recovering the species composition of adult dipterans and their arrivals (Ahmad & Ahmad, 2009).  Heo et al. (2007) used a single pig for studying the species composition of adult dipterans.  Later, Heo et al. (2008) decomposed one piglet in a pond to study the species composition of adult dipterans.  Lee and Marzuki (1993) used two monkey carcasses and reported the stages of development of dipterans although the season was not specified.  Later, Omar et al. (1994a) reported the developmental stages of diptera in a monkey carcass in a single occasion during October-December 1991.  In another study, Omar et al. (1994b) used three monkey and three cat carcasses to study the behavioural patterns of dipteran larvae.  Lee (1989) analyzed specimens received from various hospitals in Malaysia and concluded that maggots of C. megacephala and C. rufifacies were predominantly found and indicated his unpublished findings that at temperature of 30±2°C and relative humidity of 85±5%, one generation time for C. megacephala and C. rufifacies were  7.15 days and 9, respectively. 

Thus, it is seen that the previous researches in forensic entomology in Malaysia pertained to studies of adult species composition attracted to carcasses (Heo et al., 2007, 2008; Ahmad & Ahmad, 2009), studies of developmental stages in a single instance using naturally dead monkey carcasses (Lee & Marzuki, 1993; Omar et al., 1994a), a study of larval behaviour (Omar et al. 1994b) and a study using malathion-exposed dissected liver as rearing medium (Abd-Rashid et al., 2008).  As such, Mahat et al. (2009) were the first to report findings on the development of dipterans throughout the period of one year in carcasses decomposing in defined and varying climatological conditions and in the presence of malathion in Malaysia so far.