Effect of cocaine in tissues on the development rate of Boettcherisca peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae).

Larvae of the flesh fly, Boettcherisca peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy), were reared on the tissue of rabbits to study the effects of cocaine and benzoylecognine on development rates. The rabbits were given 35, 69, and 137 mg of cocaine through cardiac puncture. From hours 30 to 70, larvae developed more rapidly on tissue containing cocaine, benzoylecognine, or both, from rabbits injected with 69 and 137 mg of cocaine than on tissue from rabbits injected with 35 mg of cocaine or no cocaine. Total development times required for pupation and adult eclosion were shortened correspondingly. Differences observed in the rate of development were sufficient to alter postmortem interval estimates based on larval development in decomposing human tissues by up to 24 h.