Forensic entomology

From Libre Pathology
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Forensic entomology, abbreviated FE, is the study of the bugs that eat corpses, to help determine when someone died.

Utility of FE:

  • Can be very useful for determining time of death (as bugs usually come in a predictable sequence).
  • Forensic pathologists don't need to be experts in FE... but need to know where there is overlap.

Basics

  • The first bug to invade the dead body is blow-flies (Calliphoridae spp.).
    • Blow-fly invasion is, typically, in the first 24 hours.
      • The flies are thought to be inactive at night.[1]
    • The flies are attracted to moist areas (where there is abundant easily accessible protein), such as:
      • Mucous membranes, e.g. mouth, nose, and
      • Important in the forensic context -- wounds.
  • The corpse ecosystem's favourability is dependent on many factors-- including:[2]
    • Temperature + its variation with time.[3]
    • Humidity.
    • Local insect population.
    • Time of year -- as the above three change.

Notes:

  • European forensic entomology guidelines: PMID 16633812.

See also

References

  1. Amendt J, Zehner R, Reckel F (February 2008). "The nocturnal oviposition behaviour of blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Central Europe and its forensic implications". Forensic Sci. Int. 175 (1): 61-4. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.05.010. PMID 17587519.
  2. VanLaerhoven SL (September 2008). "Blind validation of postmortem interval estimates using developmental rates of blow flies". Forensic Sci. Int. 180 (2-3): 76-80. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.07.002. PMID 18701225.
  3. Byrd JH, Allen JC (August 2001). "The development of the black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen)". Forensic Sci. Int. 120 (1-2): 79-88. PMID 11457615. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0379073801004315.

External links