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Investigating Time of Death Using Forensic Entomology

Discover how insect behavior can help establish a timeline for determining the approximate time of death. Explore the stages of decomposition and insect life cycles, as well as factors like climate, geography, and scavenger activity that influence the process. Learn about the different types of insects involved and the methods used in forensic entomology investigations.

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Investigating Time of Death Using Forensic Entomology

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  1. 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 • 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 • 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!!

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