This entomological study was conducted in a man-made freshwater pond in a palm oil
plantation in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor from 23 July 2007 by using pig (Sus scrofa) as a carcass
model. A 1.5 month old piglet (5 kg), which died of asphyxia after being accidentally crushed by
its mother, was thrown into a pond. Observation was made for ten days; one visit per day and
climatological data were recorded. On the first two days, the piglet carcass sunk to the bottom of
the pond. The carcass floated to the surface on the third day but no fly activities were seen. The
blow fly, Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya rufifacies started to oviposit on the fourth
day. Other than adult flies, a spider (Arachnida) was also observed on the carcass. Bubbles
accumulated at the mouthpart, and the abdomen was greenish black. A lot of blow fly eggs were
seen on the body surface on the fifth day (floating decay), along with first and second instars C.
megacephala crawling under the piglet’s skin. On the sixth day, adult blow fly, C. megacephala,and
C. rufifacies,and muscid flies, Ophyra spinigera and Musca domestica were observed on to the
carcass. High numbers of first and second instars of flies were observed wandering around the
body surface with C. megacephala larvae being the predominant species. Two prominent maggot
masses occurred on seventh and eighth days. Bloated deterioration stage began on day eighth
exposing rib bones, humerus bones and intestines. Carcass was partially sinking and the maggot
masses were at the water level. On day ninth, the carcass was partially sinking and three maggot
masses were observed on the exposed surface. There were very few adult flies, including a scarab
beetle was sighted on the carcass at this stage. The carcass along with the maggots sunk on day
tenth, leaving an oily layer on the water surface.