1. How the little critters can help
Forensic Entomology
How the little critters can help

2. Insects are predictable
Because we can observe the behavior of insects, we can establish a timeline that can indicate approx. time of death
First, the general effect of time on a body:
Fresh: immediately following death and before bloating.
Bloated stage: gases produced by decomposition within the body cause it to swell.
Active decay: larvae penetrate the abdomen, causing deflation
Advanced decay: majority of internal tissue lost, other internal elements beginning to liquefy.
Dry remains: soft tissue lost, leaving skin, bone and cartilage.

3. It’s hard to establish an exact time that is standard
Climate concerns:
Temp
Moisture
Location
Types of indigenous insects differ area to area

4. General Life Cycles are Important
Egg
Larva
Pupa
Adult
Predictable times

5. Other insects Dermistids Roves Silphids Scarabs
Skin Beetles Carrion Beetles Late Stages

6. Points of interest: Myiasis=> Where maggots feed on living material
Dermistid Beetles used to clear flesh from skeletons

7. Some limiting factors:
Time of day-
Flies don’t lay eggs at night
Geography
Different climates- different insects
Season
Especially in N.E.(Temperate zones)
Microclimate
Was the body in the sun?
Habitat
Urban locations vs. City

8. Bodies in buildings Burial Bodies in water Wrapping
Different accessability
Greater flies, less beatles
Burial
Denies surface access (flies)
Bodies in water
Submerged- only aquatic insects
Partial- flies & aquatics
Wrapping
Could restrict access of some
Flies access anyway

9. Scavenger activity Burning Actually doing same job macroscopically
Alters A LOT
Where, how, insects
Burning
High temps offset normal measures
Cracked skin allowed easier access
Body NEVER entirely consumed

10. In Summary:
Insect determination is a science that must be known only by investigation in that region
Many variables must be controlled
Predictable but must establish COMPARISION
How is this done?- Experimentation!!