Preliminary observations of the effect of methamphetamine in decomposing tissues on the development rate of Parasarcophaga ruficornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and implications of this effect on the estimations of postmortem intervals.

Larvae of Parasarcophaga ruficornis (Fabricius) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) were reared on tissues from rabbits administered different dosages of methamphetamine to study the effects of this drug on development of this species. The rabbits were given 37.5, 71.4, and 142.9 mg of methamphetamine via ear vein infusion. From Hours 30 to 60, larvae feeding on tissues from rabbits receiving 71.4 and 142.9 mg of methamphetamine developed more rapidly than larvae from the control colony and those feeding on tissues from the rabbit receiving 37.5 mg of methamphetamine. The time required for pupariation was significantly greater for colonies fed on tissues from methamphetamine-dosed rabbits than for the control. These differences were sufficient to alter postmortem interval estimates based on larval development by up to 18 h and estimates based on puparial development by up to 48 h. The presence of methamphetamine or amphetamine could not be detected in Diptera larvae in this experiment using radioimmunoassay techniques, as there was a nonspecific reaction, resulting in a false positive.