ProfessorMichelle Harvey

My research priorities lie in the application of blowfly biology and behaviour to applied contexts including medical, veterinary and forensic problems.

Forensic entomology involves analysis of arthropods and their association with legal matters. My research focuses on information obtainable from forensically important blowflies, examining issues such as role in insect succession on carrion, molecular-based identification of immatures, intraspecific variation in important species, use of blowfly evidence in historical situations and factors affecting the oviposition behaviour and development of blowflies in forensic and myiasis situations.

A major focus of my research is the biology of blowflies and their adaptation to feeding in microbe dense environments, for consideration in relation to maggot debridement therapy, myiasis and forensic entomology.

Knowledge Areas
Forensic entomology, maggot/microbe interactions, blowfly issues, medical and
veterinary entomology, flystrike, wound therapy

Projects
Mighty Maggots: collaborative research with Dr Melanie Thomson (Deakin School
of Medicine) and Barwon Health on the use of Lucilia sericata larvae to
decrease healing time in Bairnsdale Ulcer cases

ARC Linkage project with Australian Wool Innovation investigating a novel semiochemical approach to flystrike to assist our wool growers.

Decomposition and succession in the Geelong area: effects of seasonal
variations, particularly humidity and low temperature episodes

Maggot/microbe interactions: elucidating the genetic and biological factors
behind successful killing/tolerance of bacteria by blowfly maggots