Transcript Document

Forensic Entomology
Classification of Insects
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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Coleoptra Diptera
Family
Genus
Species
Diptera (Fly)
• Head-compound eyes, antennae,
sucking mouthparts.
• Thorax – two pairs of jointed legs,
one pair of transparent wings.
• Abdomen – one pair of
jointed legs.
Coleoptera (Beetle)
• Head-compound eyes, antennae,
biting mouthparts.
• Thorax – six pairs of jointed legs, and
two pairs of wings (the fore wings are
hardened).
• Abdomen
Entomology in Forensics
• Child abuse – insect stings as
punishment
• Elderly neglect – insects in wounds
• Accident investigations – insect
wounds as cause of accident, or
insect impact angle in accident
reconstruction
Entomology in Forensics
• Blood spatter – cockroaches
tracking blood up to the ceiling.
• Drugs – insect fecal matter on
controlled plants can identify country
of origin.
• Necrophagous (carrion) – insects
that feed on human remains
Entomology at the Crime Scene
• Time of death – species succession
(for long periods) or genus
regression (for shorter periods).
• Movement of the body – insect
species are specific to regions and
habitats (indoors vs. outdoors or
urban vs. rural).
• Freezing or wrapping the body –
insect species succession is altered
due to temperature preferences and
ease of access.
Entomology at the Crime Scene
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Victim is incapacitated – presence of
urine or feces will attract insects that are
not normally attracted to remains.
Blood feeding insects – DNA can be
recovered from a blood sucking insect
which connects the suspect to the crime
scene.
Toxicology – if the remains have no soft
tissues available for toxicology tests, a
toxicology screening can be run on the
insects that are found feeding on the
victim.