1. Bellringer:
What are three types of material that can be found in soil?
Why is soil analysis important in forensic science?

2. FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY

3. Forensic Entomology:
The use of insect knowledge in crime investigations.

4. Forensic Entomology: A useful tool to decide how long human
remains have been
undetected.

5. Forensic Entomology Can Help Determine:
The cause of death
If a corpse has been moved after death
Post mortem interval (PMI)
Neglect or abuse while alive

6. Determining PMI:
More accurate measurement than looking at body temperature, body stiffness, chemical tests, or electrical tests
Based on the developmental stages of arthropods
Calculate the bugs’ developmental stages of when they inhabited the corpse

7. Determining PMI:
Hundreds of arthropod species are attracted to corpses
Insects are attracted to specific states of decomposition

8. Determining PMI:
Most species colonize a corpse for a limited time period and then a change of insects occur- faunal succession
Suspects can be linked to the scene of crime if bitten by arthropods specific to the crime scene area

9. Determining PMI:
If insects live in a particular area but are found on a corpse in a different area, this may prove the body was moved after death

10. Determining PMI:
Drugs can be identified from the insects that feed on the corpse
Location of a stabbing wound can be determined by unusual feeding sites of beetles and maggots.

11. LIFE CYCLES:

12. Blow Fly Eggs:
Flies lay eggs a minute and hatch within hours
Larvae (maggots) are commonly recovered from decomposing remains.

13. Blow Fly Larvae: White or cream-colored, soft bodies
Lack functional legs (shaped like sausage)
Laid in clumps called maggots
Eat until they reach full size, then move to find area to form puparium

14. Maggot Mass:

15. Common Blow Fly Larvae Found on Human Remains

16. Blow Fly Pupae:
Pupae are often overlooked.
Appear as rat droppings or the egg case of cockroaches

17. Blow Fly Pupae:
Important for evidence-
If adult fly has NOT emerged yet, pupa looks featureless and rounded on both ends
If adult fly HAS emerged, one end appears as if it has been cut off and the inside is hollow

18. Unemerged Blow Fly Pupa:

19. Adult Emerging from the Puparium:

20. Appear metallic green or blue
Blow Fly Adult:
Appear metallic green or blue
MALE FEMALE

21. Beetle Life Cycle:

22. Beetle Eggs:
Eggs hatch

23. Beetle Larvae: Each species look very different from one another
Have 3 pairs of legs
Body can be white, robust, and hairless
Can be dark brown, slender, and hairy
Can be black and have armored plates

24. Common Beetle Larvae:

25. Beetle Pupae:
Incubation until adulthood

26. Very diverse in appearance
Beetle Adult:
Very diverse in appearance

27. Beetle Adults:
Sexton Beetle: Nocturnal and typically found under a body or in the soil immediately surrounding the remains during the daylight hours.

28. Adult Beetles:
American Carrion Beetle: Commonly observed on the upper surfaces of a body during the daylight hours

29. Flesh Flies: