Forensic Entomology Module Overview

Forensic Entomology is the study of insects and their relation to criminal investigations. When a crime scene involves a dead body it is not uncommon that it is accompanied by insect evidence, most often flies and beetles. Because these organisms have a relatively defined life cycle, depending on the weather, it is possible to calculate the post mortem interval by looking at the various stages of colonization on or within the body.

Essential Questions

What is Entomology and how does it apply to Forensic Science?
What information can a Forensic Entomologist determine from the crime scene and victim's body?
What insects are commonly found in a corpse?
How can time of death be calculated using entomological data?
How can insects provide information about toxins in the body?

Key Terms

Forensic Entomology - The study of life cycles of insects that feed on the flesh of the dead, to establish time of death and occasionally identify chemicals present in a person's body at the time of death.
Carpet Beetles - Larvae and adults feed on dry skin and hairs of the corpse and arrive later in the decomposition process.
Rove Beetles - Arrive a few hours after a death and are active throughout decomposition process. They feed on larvae and other insects rather than the corpse itself.
Carrion Beetles - Known for burying small carcasses of animals and insects. Adults feed on maggots and carrion and will colonize a corpse at any stage of decomposition.
Hister Beetles - Found in bloated, decay, and early drying stages. Both larvae and adults feed on maggots and puparia.
Black Scavenger Flies - Larvae that feed on human excrement and remains, and are found late in the decomposition process.
Flesh Flies - Adults lay larvae on decaying flesh. Some of the first insects to reach a corpse.
Postmortem Interval - Time since death.
Blowfly - Often the first insect to reach a corpse because they are attracted to the smell of rotting flesh. Maggots, which are the larvae of flies, actually decompose the majority of the flesh of corpses.
Entomotoxicology - The analysis of toxins in arthropods (mainly beetles) that feed on carrion. Using arthropods in a corpse or at a crime scene, investigators can determine whether toxins were present in a body at the time of death.

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