Forensic Entomology

HosA

Bioaccumulate

the process by which substances such as toxins build up in an organism over time because they are absorbed faster than they are eliminated

Blow flies

insects from the family Calliphoridae that are typically the first to colonize human remains and are crucial in estimating time since death

Carrion

decaying animal flesh that serves as a food source for insects and other scavengers

Entomology

the scientific study of insects, often applied in forensics to analyze insect activity on remains

Entomotoxicology

the study of drugs, toxins, or chemicals present in insects feeding on a body to infer substances in the deceased

First instar

the earliest larval stage of an insect after hatching, characterized by small size and rapid feeding

Frass

insect waste material, including excrement and debris, often found near feeding sites

Maggot debridement therapy (MDT)

a medical treatment using live maggots to clean wounds by consuming dead tissue and bacteria

Myiasis

infestation of live human or animal tissue by fly larvae

Puparial

relating to the hardened case formed during the pupal stage of certain flies

Second instar

the intermediate larval stage following the first molt, where larvae increase in size and feeding activity

Successional colonization

the predictable sequence in which different insect species colonize decomposing remains over time

Third instar

the final and largest larval stage before pupation, marked by intense feeding and growt