Transcript Slide 1
Forensic Entomology and Taxonomy Entomology 1 Forensic Entomology • Refers to any aspect of the study of insects/arthropods and how they interact with legal matters – Taxonomy – Entomology – Pathology • Largely ignored as a forensic tool - considered another disgusting aspect of death • Contributions have been known to science for over 700 years • Very specialized field - few experts – Only 62 experts recognized worldwide Uses in Forensics • To determine approximate time of death for advanced decomposition cases – Remember – legally requires a pathologist, not an entomologist • Cases involving sudden death • Traffic accidents with no immediately obvious cause • Possible criminal misuse of insects Fields of Forensic Entomology • Medicocriminal – Criminal section – focuses on insects feeding on human remains • Urban – Focuses on insects that affect man & their immediate environment (houses, etc.) • Stored Products – Focuses on insect infestations in food & beverages Scientific Aspects • Noting successive colonization by a variety of species • Identifying the developmental stages of found insects • Geographic distribution of insect/arthropod species • Can lead to location of death History • 1235 – Sung Tzu – Asked villagers to bring out their sickles after a slashing - flies were attracted to one of the sickles • 1668 – Famous experiment showed that maggots did not “spring” from rotten meat • 1855 – First time insects were used to determine an approximate time of death for a dead baby found behind a wall History • 1936 – Works published in the development of typical blow flies and flesh flies • 1985 – Realized weather conditions greatly affected insect propagation • 1986 – 1st forensic entomology text Taxonomy • Science of classifying living things into patterns • Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) – Swedish botanist – Designed 7 tiered system still in use today • Originally based on physical characteristics – Now includes genetic links – Also originally included some mythical beasts Linnaean Taxonomy • Hierarchy – Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species – Also includes super, sub and infra levels • Class Insecta (important to forensics!) – Kingdom: Animalia • Phylum: Arthropoda – Class: Insecta » Order Diptera » Order Coleoptera