Effect of alprazolam treated food on development of blow fly : Chrysomya bezziana (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Impact of sedative, alprazolam, on life cycle of Chrysomya bezziana (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was studied. Alprazolam treated food affect growth of C. bezziana larvae. Larval and pupal development slows down with increasing concentration of alprazolam in the food. Both the larval and pupal stages got delayed under the influence of alprazolam. It was observed that the flies emerge earlier from control or untreated food and later on from that treated with higher concentration of alprazolam ( 1.6 ppm.). It has been assumed that, if a person die due to the consumption of alprazolam drug, it will affect development of Chrysomya bezziana larva found on the corpse . Thus the present data may be helpful to determine the correct post-mortem interval (PMI).