The use of DNA barcode to identifying Sarcophagidae species (Diptera: Muscomorpha) of forensic importance from Brazil

Many Sarcophagidae species (Diptera: Muscomorpha) become important with regard to the forensic field due to their biology and behavior. However, the difficulty of identification of the immature forms and, in some cases, of the adults may limit its potential utility. We tested the viability of the use of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) DNA barcode for the identification of eight flesh fly species – Oxysarcodexia avuncula, Oxysarcodexia paulistanensis, Oxysarcodexia riograndensis, Oxysarcodexia thornax, Sarcodexia lambens, Peckia (Pattonella) resona, Peckia (Squamatodes) ingens, and Microcerella halli – collected predominantly in urban and forest areas in Brazil. In this case, the COI barcode sequence was found to be useful to validate the process of species-specific identification of these insects of forensic importance in Brazil.