Effect of over-the-counter acetaminophen on the development of the black blow fly, Phormia regina

The effects of xenobiotics such as alcohol or street drugs on the colonization and development of forensically important insects has been studied in several countries and has focused on different substances. This is contrasted by a lack of data on the effects produced by use of popular over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen on the development of necrophagous insects. The goal of this project was to see the effects that the consumption of over-the-counter acetaminophen has on the development of the Black Blow Fly, Phormia regina (Meigein) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). We reared P. regina larvae of on beef liver spiked with different concentrations of over-the-counter acetaminophen, at a constant temperature, humidity and lighting regimes and recorded the developmental times for the following stages: first instar, second instar, third instar and pupa. We also measured the length in millimeters of each instar for each of the acetaminophen treatments to assess significant differences in the size of the larvae. This project has provided the foundation for a more in-depth study of the role acetaminophen-heavy tissue has on insect growth and development, and the estimation of minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) or minimum time of death.