DNA characterization from gut content of larvae of Megaselia scalaris (Diptera, Phoridae).

•Insects from a crime scene can be useful in the victim identification process.•Megaselia scalaris is an important colonizer of buried or indoor bodies.•5 protocols were evaluated in order to optimize the gut content extraction.•Despite the small size the larval gut content was successfully extracted.•Full STR profiles were obtained using a minimum of a single larva.