BIOL-3330 Lecture 1: Introduction

Forensic Entomology

Forensic Entomology

The study of insects and their role in forensic investigations, particularly in determining the timing and location of death.

Blow flies

A type of fly belonging to the family Calliphoridae, often used in forensic entomology.

Keys

Published guides or tools used to identify blow flies to species or genus.

Genus

A taxonomic rank below family and above species, used to classify organisms with similar characteristics.

Species epithets

The specific name given to a species, usually in Latin and written in italics.

Authority

The person or group who first described and named a species.

International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

A set of rules and guidelines for naming and classifying animals.

Fly data label

A label used to record information about a specific fly specimen, including species identification.

Post Mortem Interval

The time that has elapsed since a person's death.

Ecology of corpses

The study of how dead bodies interact with the environment and the organisms that decompose them.

Name the four major life history stages

Egg, larvae, pupae, and adults.

Maggots

The larval stage of flies.

Adaptive peak

The optimal combination of traits that allows a species to thrive in a particular environment.

Feast or famine

A situation where there is either an abundance or a scarcity of food.

Putrefaction

The process of decay and decomposition of organic matter.

Mummification

Dry, late stage of decay

Colonization time

The time at which insects first arrive and start to feed on a dead body.

Larvae

The immature form of an insect, typically with a worm-like appearance.

Pupae

The stage in an insect's life cycle between the larval and adult stages.

Intrinsic factors

Factors that originate from within an organism or system.

List some intrinsic sources of variability in carcass colonization (4)

• Late colonizers

• Distance to other nearest corpse

• Number of colonizers available

• Competition from other colonizers

Extrinsic factors

Factors that originate from outside an organism or system.

List some extrinsic sources of variability in carcass colonization (8)

• Moisture

• Sun vs Shade

• Species that arrive

• Distance to nearest corpse

• Commonness or rarity of other corpses

• Predators

• Parasites

• Disease

List some examples of variability associated with the carcass (7)

• Size of corpse

• Presence of drugs

• Food

• Health of the individual

• Amount and location of fat

• Exposure of interior organs and body cavity

• Access (submerged)

Blow flies

Flies that deposit eggs on decaying organic matter.

Burying beetle

Sextant beetle. Order: Coleoptera, Family: Silphidae

Predatory mites

Mites that feed on other insects. Class: Acarina, Family: Macrochelidae

Carcass

The dead body of an animal.

Chitin

A polysaccharide similar to cellulose, found in the exoskeleton of insects.

Cuticle

The outer protective layer of an insect's body.

Cuticular hydrocarbon

external waxy coating of insects.

Spiracles

Small openings on an insect's body for breathing.

Holometabolous

A type of metamorphosis where an insect undergoes complete transformation.

Instars

The three stages of immature (maggot) development.

Head

The anterior part of an insect's body, containing sensory organs and mouthparts.

Thorax

The middle part of an insect's body, where the legs and wings are attached.

Abdomen

The posterior part of an insect's body, containing the digestive and reproductive organs.

Antenna

The sensory appendages on an insect's head.

Dichotomous keys

Tools used to identify organisms based on a series of choices.