The 21 papers presented in this thesis are representative of the candidate’s research output over a
27-year period in the field s of veterinary and forensic entomology and include some of his most
significant contributions from >150 post-doctoral peer-reviewed publications. They include scholarly,
synoptic reviews and novel experimental research in a wide variety of areas, ranging from taxonomy
and systematics to ecology, physiolog y, behaviour and control techniques and show how these areas
impact and interact with the overarching theme of the thesis, the association of blow flies and flesh
flies with living and dead vertebrate tissues. Studies of flies on living vertebrate tissues are linked to
the disease condition known as myiasis, in the field of veterinary entomology, while studies of flies on
dead tissues relate to the field of forensic entomology, the interpretation of insect evidence in legal
investigations.
The work presented in the thesis has helped to significantly advance veterinary and forensic
entomology by:-
• Providing the necessary knowledge base for the advancement of research on myiasis,
especially traumatic myiasis a hitherto neglected tropical disease, and the most important
obligate myiasis -causing species, thereby improving our ability to respond to future range
expansions of these economically important pests in a timely manner.
• Improving techniques for trapping myiasis-causing flies for monitoring and control.
• Improving techniques for prophylactic treatment of sheep/goat flocks against agents of
traumatic myiasis.
• Improving our understanding of the genetic make-up of geographically dispersed populations of
the two most important agents of traumatic myiasis in the Old World, Chrysomya bezziana and
Wohlfahrtia magnifica.
• Providing protocols and raising standards for the application of forensic entomology.
• Improving methods for collection, preservation, identification and aging of fly samples in
forensic entomology.
• Introducing the use of micro-computed tomography techniques to provide novel qualitative and
quantitative information on the intra- puparial development of blow flies for use in forensic
entomology and studies of metamorphosis.
The candidate has developed w orld-class expertise in myiasis and forensic entomology and the
application of both fields to matters of societal importance, pest control and the judicial system. The
impact of the published works is demonstrated by:-
• The significant and increasing citation levels over the period considered.
• The stimulation of studies by other researchers globally in the two fields.
• The inclusion of the knowledge and techniques into standard international protocols and
manuals on myiasis and forensic entomology.
The paper s presented here in support of this submission to the Doctor of Science Degree provide
evidence of a sustained and significant contribution by the candidate to the fields of veterinary and
forensic entomology, with impact at an international level.