BIOL-3330H: Lab Identification Test

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Arthropod. Spider

What is it’s class?

Arachnida

Where is this found and what is it evidence of?

On clothing.

Evidence of terrestrial habitats

What is it’s association with dead bodies?

• It is not a carrion specialist

• It uses clothing/the body as a hiding place or to hunt insects

• It is on the scene accidentally and usually adventive

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Insect. Black blow fly

What is its genus and species name?

Phormia and Phormia regina

What is its family name?

Calliphoridae

What is its order? What does this mean?

Diptera. Two-winged animals

Where is it found and what is it evidence of?

On dead bodies.
Evidence of recent death

What is it’s association with dead bodies?

• It is an early arriver on large carcasses

• It is a carrion specialist

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Insect. Carpet/Museum beetle

What is its order?

Colleoptera

What is its family?

Dermestidae

Where is it found and what is it evidence of?

On mummified bodies and on dried skins/bones.
Evidence of old stage and dried carcasses

What is its association with dead bodies?

• It is a carrion specialist

• It is an indicator of dried protein

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Insect. Bedbug

Where is this found and what is it evidence of?

Inside houses on clothing and bedding, or in car seats.
Indicator of the indoors.

What is its association with dead bodies?

Accidental

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Arthropod. Mite.

What is its class and order?

Arachnida. Order Acaria

Where is it found and what is it evidence of?

Traveling by phoresy on other insects or on a dead body.
Evidence of Corpse origin

What is its association with dead bodies?

• It eats eggs and first instar larvae

• Alters/Delays successional decay patterns

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Arthropod. Pseudoscorpion.

What is its class and order?

Class Arachnida. Order Pseudoscorpionida

What is its association with dead bodies?

• Found during late stage decay

• Predator of other arthropods

• Disperse by phoresy

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Arthropod. Sow/Pill Bug

What is its class?

Malacostraca

What is its order?

Isopoda

Where is it found and what is it evidence of?

Found in rotting plant and animal tissue (decomposing remains)
Evidence of location of death

What is its association with dead bodies?

It is found at all stages of decomposition

What bug is this and what is its common name?

Arthropod. Centipede.

What is its class?

Class Malacostraca

What is its order?

Order Chilopoda

Where is this found and what is it evidence of?

Indoors
Indicator that the location of corpse is indoors

Where is this found and what is it evidence of?

Outdoors.
Indicator that the location of the corpse is outdoors

What is their association with dead bodies?

Predatory on other arthropods

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Arthropod. Millipede.

What is its class?

Class Malacostraca

What is its order?

Diplopoda

Where is it found and what is it evidence of?

Found in moist habitats
Indicator of habitat

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Insect. Springtails.

What is its class and order?

Class Insecta. Order Collembola

Where is it found and what is it evidence of?

Found in damp habitats (seepage underneath decaying corpses)
Indicator of top soil and turf

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Insect. Silverfish

What is its class and order?

class Insecta. Order Thysanura.

Where is it found and what is it evidence of?

Found in mummified and dried remains
Indicator of indoors

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Insect. Cockroach

What is its class and order?

Class Insecta. Order Blattaria

Where is it found and what is it evidence of?

Found on late stage remains and in households
Indicator of a multi-unit dwelling

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Insect. Earwig

What is its class and order?

Class Insecta. Order Dermaptera.

Where is it found and what is it evidence of?

Found in damp habitats (beneath corpses)
Indicators of habitat

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Beetle. Burying Beetle.

What is its order and family?

Order colleoptera. Family Silphidae

What is its subfamily?

Nicrophorinae

What is its association with dead bodies?

• Participates in biparental care of its offspring

• Buries underneath small corpses to create a crypt for eggs

• After hatching, mother creates hole in carcass and will regurgitate to feed larvae for until their second moult

What type of bug is this and what is its common name?

Beetle. Carrion Beetles.

What is its order and family?

ORder Colleoptera. Family Silphidae.

What is its subfamily?

Silphinae

What is its association with dead bodies?

• Adults find large carcasses to breed at

• Females oviposit on soil around the body

• Participates in little to no parental care

What is its genus and species?

Necrophila
Necrophila Americana