Accumulation and excretion of morphine by Calliphora stygia, an Australian blow fly species of forensic importance

This study examined the ability of the forensically important blow fly, Calliphora stygia to actively excrete morphine, thereby maintaining a low morphine level within its body when fed on a diet containing morphine at low (7pmolg(-1)) and high (17.5pmolg(-1)) concentrations. Morphine was accumulated within the bodies of maggots (≈70% within the tissues) at concentrations which were lower than that of the meat (3-24%). The morphine content of …