Forensic entomologists
None in SG
Science and study of insects or other arthropods with law related applications
Urban forensic entomology pest infestations
Stored product forensic entomology infestation or contamination of commercially distributed food
FE deals with myiasis = fly larvae feed on necrotic or living tissues
MDT = maggot debridement therapy
medical use of live maggots (fly larvae) to treat non-healing wounds
disinfected fly larvae applied to wound for 2-3 days within special dressings to keep them from
migrating
3 primary actions:
- clean wounds by dissolving dead and infected tissues (debridement)
- disinfect wound (kill bacteria)
- speed up healing rate
only used when antibiotics, surgery and modern wound care failed to control advancing wound
medical maggots
batch number and expiration date
taxidermy / bone cleaning
taxidermy preservation of human or animal skeletons
dermestes beetles feed on animal protein-based products
good for cleaning bones removal of tissues etc
under normal circumstances these insects are pests
medico-legal / medico-criminal entomology
includes arthropod involvement in events such as murder suicide rape physical abuse contraband
trafficking
insects presence yields many clues to both antemortem and post-mortem circumstances of the
crime
DNA technology to recover and identify insect species
human blood can be recovered from digestive tract of insect:
presence of victims DNA within insect can place suspect at known location within definable period
of time
insects feeding on living, decomposing or dried vegetable material can be used to determine country
or point of origin
FE usually called upon to determine post-mortem interval in homicide investigations
Uses species succession, larval weight, larval length, accumulated degree hour technique
Insects recovered from decomposing human remains can be used for toxicological analysis as insects
skeletonise corpse in a short time
Possible to recover insect larvae and run standard toxicological analyses on them like on human
tissue
These can be successful on larvae because tissues assimilate drugs and toxins that accumulated in
human tissue prior to death maggot blend
Collect maggots, blend them, extract any drugs/toxins present
Others
Stings of bee or wasps may be responsible for single occupant car accident
Insects can cause aircraft crashes through obstruction of essential instrumentation causing engine
failure
History of forensic entomology
Song Ci (ca 1235) murder in Chinese village, local investigator had all villagers bring sickles to one
spot and lay them out. Flies were attracted to one of the sickles because of invisible remnant tissues
adhering to it
Francesco L Redi (1668) refuted hypothesis of spontaneous generation of life
Bergeret 1855: first westerner to use insects as forensic indicator
baby found behind plaster mantle in house and determined the assemblage of insects pointed to
state of decay that dated back several years
Reinhard H 1881 was first german forensic entomologist
Megnin J P 1883, 1898 published Faune des Tombeaux and La Faune des Cadavres
Aldrich 1916 did a monograph on family Sarcophagidae
Knipling 1936 provided descriptions and keys to many common early maggots of flesh flies
Hall 1948 did a monograph on the Blowflies of North America
Hall and Townsend 1977, Hall 1979, Goddard and Lago 1983 published on improved distributional
information of forensic flies
Meek et. al (1983) initial guide to entomological involvement in forensic pathology
Greenberg 1985 provided rearing data and some forensically important species to degree hour
status
Vincent et al 1985 bibliography of all publications dealing wholly or in large part with medico
criminal entomology worldwide
Smith 1986 first textbook devoted to forensic entomology
Liu and Greenberg 1989 use of SEM on accurate identification of critical larval and pupal stages
1990 publication of procedural guide Entomology and Death
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Insects have existed for about 250 million years
High diversity in forms
Currently 700k described species
Estimated more than 10million unknown species
General life cycle of insects stages
Eggs: present in clumps of up to 300
Laying to hatching takes 1 day
1
st
larva / 1
st
instar initially feeds on fluid exuded from body, migrates into body
Hatching to first moult takes 1 day
2
nd
larva / 2
nd
instar moves around in maggot mass
First moult to second moult takes 1 day
3
rd
larva / 3
rd
instar still moves in mass
Greatly increases in size
Second moult to pre-pupa takes 2 days
Pre-pupa migrates away from corpse
Seeking suitable pupation site
Does not feed
Transforms into pupa
Pre-pupa to pupa takes 4 days
Resides within puparium, undergoes changes from larval to adult fly body form
Pupa to adult emergence takes 10 days
Adult fly
Mates upon emergence from pupa
Feeds on protein from body fluids
Lays eggs on corpse
Emergence to egg laying takes 2 days
Ecological concepts
Developmental time dependent on temperature at microhabitat level
Ecological succession: a corpse will be invaded by series of different species or insect groups over
time. Each species changes microenvironment through activities which make it attractive to new
waves of organisms
ecological succession diagram
types of decomposers
- vertebrates (macrofauna)
- large invertebrates (mesofauna)
- smaller invertebrates (microfauna)
- fungi (microfauna)
- protists (present throughout)
single cell organisms
Corpse fauna
- bacteria
- flies, beetles, mites, parasitic wasps, moths
Ecological role of insects
Necrophages (feed on corpse tissue) mostly true flies and beetles, larval instar important for PMI
Omnivores (insects that feed both on corpse and associated fauna (ants, wasps, other betles) may
alter rate of decomposition
Parasites and predators (many beetles, true flies and wasps that attack immature flies)
Incidentals (use corpse as resource extension e.g. springtails, spiders, centipedes, some mites)
Factors affecting insect infestation
Physical (soil, water, caskets, pre-mortem, post-mortem injuries)
Chemical (embalming agent, insecticides, lime etc)
Climatic (heat, cold, wind, rainfall)
Animals (birds, mice, rodents, canids, cats, etc)
bite marks = entry points for insects
Factors influencing development and succession
- Geography (temperate vs tropics)
- Seasons (summer vs winter)
- Exposure to sun
- Urban v Rural (bodies in buildings)
- Buried bodies (depth of burial)
- Bodies in water
- Bodies in vehicles
- Hanged bodies
- Bodies in enclosed spaces
- Burnt remains
- Wrapped remains
- Drugs and other toxins
- Food type
List of chemicals that have been traced in maggots
Many of the chemicals can influence the life cycle of maggots e.g. cocaine
Insecticides used in suicide taken orally can hinder colonization
Presence of Amitriptyline an antidepression can prolong developmental time with up to 77 hours at
least in one species of Sarcophagidae
Pioneer flies
Houseflies and blowflies always first to arrive
Some blowflies can lay larvae although both types of flies lay eggs
Initially feed on fluids from body then enter body through natural openings/wounds
Houseflies
Adult housefly has spongy mouthparts, feed on fluids such as human perspiration / use secretion of
fly-saliva to liquefy solid food
True housefly musca domestica commonly observed feeding on exuded fluid from corpse
Larvae are usually dung feeders
Adults most common at corpses in early stages of decomposition when corpse is moist
Another species of housefly Australophyra rostrata
Blowflies
attractive blue-green metallic colour, sometimes non-metallic brown
Usually relatively large in size
Can pick up faint traces of decay odour and fly up to 20 km from birthplace in search of suitable
corpse to lay eggs
Females use tonguelike mouthparts ot feed on protein secretions from the corpse before laying
Larvae feed using mouth hooks, rapidly increasing in size, moult three times during development,
time taken to develop between instars fairly constant but dependent on temperature
Idetification of larvae of particular instar and knowledge of recent weather conditions allows
forensic entomologists to determine time of death
Flesh flies (sarcophigae)
Stripey backed or chequered flies with red eyes
Arrive at corpses slightly later than blowflies
Deposit larvae directly on dead body
Adults compete with blowflies and other flies for best laying site
Flesh flies can use legs to kick away other flies that stray too close if attempt to lay same place
Cheese flies (piophilidae)
Attracted to cheesy smell emanates from a corpse during later stages of decomposition, particular ly
when body undergoes butyric fermentation.
When disturbed, larvae will flex and release bodies, skipping up to 15 cm into the air
Cheese flies can occur in large numbers
Found in coffins buried up to 3m deep and corpses up to 10 years old
Coffin/scuttle flies (phoridae)
Minute flies most active at exposed body
Appears when butyric fermentation has begun and the corpse is starting to dry
Most common in buried human coffins after one year of burial
Can dig way through cracks in soil above buried coffins
Screw worm (calliphoridae)
Adult secondary screwworm
Newly emerged adult attain bright green coloration and ready for flight in few hours
Empty case it leaves behind remains for extended periods of time
Presence of puparium used in establishing max post-mortem interval estimation
Also parasite in warm blooded animals
Hister beetles (Histeridae)
shiny black / metallic green beetles with introverted heads
Hide under corpse during daylight, active at night when enter maggot-infested part to capture and
devour maggots
Fast larval development, only two stages
Beetles of genus Saprinus among the first to arrive to feed on larvae and purpae of all blowfly,
especially freshly emerged pupae
Adults lay eggs in corpse and larvae feed on blowfly pupae when they emerge
Rove beetles (staphylinidae)
Elongated beetles with small elytra (wing covers) large jaws
Fast larval development, only three larval stages
Devils Coach-horse Beetle common predator of carrion, bright red head, visible component of fauna
of corpses in Aus
Adults early visitors to corpse, feeding on larvae of all species of flies, including other predatory fly
larvae
Lay eggs in corpse, emerging larvae also predators
Carrion beetles (silphidae)
Large carrion beetles that feed on other carrion and fly larvae
Adults recorded feeding on carrion, cannot survive alone and will die if no access to maggots
Fast larval development
Usually hide under carcass, can be seen wandering around with maggots in jaws
Hide beetles (dermestidae)
Important animals present in final stages of dcomposition
Adults and larvae not predaceous
Feed on dry skin tendons bone left behind by other larvae
Only beetle with enzymes necessary for breaking down keratin, component of hair and nails
Larvae are hairy
Scarab beetles (scarabaeidae)
One of the heaviest insects known
Beautifully coloured, large and hard, highly polished forewings, beautiful sculptured forelegs and
antennae
Sap beetles (Nitidulidae)
Small, ovoid, dull coloured beetles with knobbed antennae
Some have red or yellow spots or bands
Feed mainly on decaying vegetable matter, sap, oozing fluids from decayed body
Ham beetles (Cleridae)
Elongate beetles with metallic sheen, red/yellow
Both larvae and adults predatory
Found worldwide and common in later stages of decomposition
Larvae feed on dried fate and pupate inside empty pupal cases of other flies after sealing opening
with silk
Carcass beetles (Trogidae)
Large sized beetles with thick exoskeletons and uniform dark colouration
last beetles to inhabit carcass and feeding on dried remains such as skin and ligaments
Both adults and larvae feeding on carcass
Larvae live in vertical burrows under carcass when they are not foraging
Mites
Not true insects, more related ot spiders
Gamasid mites common in early stages of decomposition, while tyroglyphid mites feed on dry skin
in the later stages of decomposition
Some mites and carrion beetles have developed symbiotic lifestyles that benefit each other
Parasitic wasp
lay eggs inside larvae/pupa of other flies = parasitoids
Hatch inside maggot/fly pupa, then feeds on maggot/pupa, killing it
Larvae pupate inside the maggot/pupa and meerge as adult wasps
Parasitize variety of species but prefer pupae of predatory blowfly
Moths
feed on mammalian hair during larval stages
Lay eggs on carcass after all other fly larvae done
Larvae forage on hair that remains
Final animals contributing to decomposition
Stage 1: no decay
Once death occurs, lose ability to keep intestinal fauna under control
Stage 2: initial decay
0-3 days
flies attracted from moment of death
Bacteria and own digestive enzymes spread through body contributing to decomposition
Blowflies and houseflies lay eggs around wounds and natural body openings
Eggs hatch and move into body within 24 hours
Complete life cycle of fly 2-3 weeks
Stage 3: putrefaction
4-10 days after death
Putrefaction gases produced by anaerobic bacteria, considerable bloating
seepage of fluids, larval activity speeds up, decomposition speeds up, body fluids emanate smells,
smell attracts more blowflies, flesh flies, beetles and mites
Latter-arriving flies and beetles are predators, feeding on maggots and decaying flesh
Joined by parasitoid wasps that lay eggs inside maggots and pupae
Stage 4: black putrefaction
10-20 days after death
Abdominal wall broken, carcass deflates
By this stage several generations of maggots present
Some fully grown, migrate from body and bury selves in soil where they become pupae
Predatory maggots more abundant at this stage, pioneer flies cease to be attracted
Predatory beetles lay eggs in corpse, larvae hatch and feed on decaying flesh
Parasitoid wasps more common, laying eggs inside maggots and pupae
Stage 5: butyric fermentation
remaining flesh removed over period, body dries out, emitting cheesy smell (butyric acid)
Smell attracts new suite of corpse organisms
body now more suitable for chewing mouthparts of beetles
Beetles feed on skin and ligaments
Cheese fly consumes any remaining moist flesh at this stage
Stage 6: dry decay
(50-365 days after death)
Body now dry, decays very slowly, all hair disappears leaving only the bones
Animals feeding on hair include moths and micro-organisms like bacteria
Mites in turn feed on these micro-organisms which remain on the body as long as traces of hair
remains
Rate of decomposition affected by
- temperature
- Access by insects
- Burial and depth
- Access by carnivores or rodents
- Trauma including wounds/crushing blows
- Humidity, dryness
- Rainfall
- Body size and weight
- Prior embalming
- Clothing
- Surface the body rests on
