A survey of blowfly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) populations across and between the ten ecoregions of Texas with implications in population genetic structure

Forensic entomologists rely on the predictability of insects associated with decomposition to aid in determination of the stages of decomposition and therefore the post mortem interval. However, fly data for Texas remains depauperate. Life histories and behaviors vary between regions and can lead to miscalculations when any one record is used as a universal standard. In an effort to increase the information, we surveyed blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of the ten ecoregions of Texas, documented initial colonizers, and recorded their behavior. Our data show a commonality of initially colonizing species across all ecoregions of Texas. Published microsatellite primers will be used to investigate gene flow between and among populations to test if these populations are specific to ecoregions.