Download Forensic Entomology - Southington Public Schools

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Forensic Entomology
Forensic Entomology is the use of the insects, and their arthropod relatives that inhabit
decomposing remains to aid legal investigations. The broad field of forensic entomology is commonly
broken down into three general areas: medicolegal, urban, and stored product pests. The medicolegal
section focuses on the criminal component of the legal system and deals with the necrophagous (or
carrion) feeding insects that typically infest human remains. The urban aspect deals with the insects
that affect man and his immediate environment. This area has both criminal and civil components as
urban pests may feed on both the living and the dead. The damage caused by their mandibles (or
mouthparts) as they feed can produce markings and wounds on the skin that may be misinterpreted as
prior abuse. Urban pests are of great economic importance and the forensic entomologist may become
involved in civil proceedings over monetary damages. Lastly, stored product insects are commonly
found in foodstuffs and the forensic entomologist may serve as an expert witness during both criminal
and civil proceedings involving food contamination.
To begin the experiment you must first visit my home web page and search under the
Entomology tool bar. Scroll down to the bottom of the Entomology page you will find three links
under the Forensics heading. You must research information about forensics before you begin your
investigation outdoors at a crime scene. The pre-lab questions below will help prepare you for you
field work.
How to Investigate the Crime Scene:
1) How does the type of crime scene dictate the insects that visit remains?
2) Why does the position of the animal remains determine insect infestation?
3) What climatological data needs to be observed at a crime scene?
4) What steps need to be taken when collecting specimens at the scene?
5) What has to be done after collecting the specimen(s)?
How to Estimate the Time of Death:
6) What, two, insects are the first to arrive at a crime scene?
7) What happens to the pupa as it ages?
8) What does it indicate if there are empty pupa cases?
9) If you happen to find three different species of insects on a body, how many days have
probably passed since time of death?
10) What might it mean if you observed dead larvae within the remains of a body in the spring
time?
11) How do you determine the time of death of a person when you find remains in the winter time?
How to Determine a Cause of Death:
12) What can car accident victims be checked for?
13) What can maggots be checked for?
14) You notice a large amount of maggots behind the ear of a person. What might this mean?