First record of the forensically important genus Protopiophila Duda (Diptera: Piophilidae) from South Korea and an integrative framework for forensic identification

The family Piophilidae is of significant forensic importance due to its association with late-stage decomposition; however, the Korean piophilid fauna remains poorly studied, lacking comprehensive morphological and molecular data. This study reports the first record of the genus Protopiophila Duda from South Korea. Five male specimens were collected and identified as Protopiophila contecta (Walker) based on morphological characters. We provide the first detailed illustrations and descriptions of the previously poorly documented male internal genitalia and a new identification key to the South Korean piophilids. To complement the morphological data, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcodes were generated and analyzed. The neighbor-joining tree showed that the four Korean specimens formed a distinct, well-supported clade, clearly separated from the congeners P. latipes and P. litigata. This study establishes an integrative framework for identifying P. contecta, adding a fourth forensically relevant piophilid species to the Korean entomofauna. These morphological and molecular data provide a crucial reference for future forensic investigations in the region.