Forensic Entomology

Forensic entomology is the application of the study of insects and other arthropods to legal issues (Staerkeby, 2001). Medicolegal forensic entomology involves arthropods in such events as murder, suicide, and rape, physical abuse, and trafficking in contraband. Arthropods are carrion feeders, i.e. they live on the dead, and if you know the different stages of an insect's life, you can calculate the time since the egg was laid, and use this to estimate the time of death.

The exact procedure used for analyzing the crime scene will depend on the type of habitat, but is usually divided into five steps (Staerkeby, 2000). The first step is to visually observe and make notations at the scene. Secondly, climatological data at the scene should be collected. Thirdly, specimens should be collected from the body before it is moved. Fourthly, specimens should be collected from the surrounding area (up to 5 m from the body) before the remains are removed. Finally, specimens should be collected from directly under and in close proximity to the remains (with one meter) after the body has been removed.

It may also be useful to observe the activity of insects at the crime scene because entomologists will see things which other crime scene investigators may miss (Staerkeby, 2000). The type of habitat should be noted - urban or rural, suburban, aquatic, forest, roadside, closed building, open building, lake, pond or river. The finding of insects on the body typical of other habit

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