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16
The Entomological
Crime Scene
Decomposing body
Flies/fly infestation
Necrotic insects
Temperature
Footprint/tire tracks
Maggots/maggot trails
Animal distributed bones
Hidden/discarded weapons
Firearms evidence
bullets/cartridges
Disturbed soil as evidence of
additional burials
evidence that might be expected at scenes requiring entomological analysis. Much of this
evidence would be also found in routine homicide or burglary scenes.
It is also important to realize that entomological PMI estimates are just that, estimations. What is really measured is the time it takes from insect colonization to the formation
of the adult insect. Figure 16.2 illustrates the process.
After someone dies, such as in a murder case, insects colonize the body soon after
death. As shown in the slide in Figure 16.2, this is time frame from when the person is
murdered to the time it takes for colonization to begin. Although this length of time should
be included in PMI calculations, it is not because it is unknown. The only information
available to forensic entomologists is the time from colonization, based on the physical
Forensic entomologists are asked to determine the
postmortem interval (PMI) or Time Since Death
in death investigations. PMI is the desired result,
but the forensic entomologist actually estimates
only one aspect of the PMI, based on the life stage
of the insect. This entomological estimation of PMI
is known as the Time Since Colonization.
Person
murdered
Insect
colonization
Calculated
time since
colonization
Actual
postmortem
interval (PMI)
Time Since Colonization may or may not
closely approximate the PMI. Factors
involved include, time it takes for insects to
colonize the body and environmental
considerations, death location, movement
of the body, etc.,
Scene
investigation
Forensic Entomology
459
presence of eggs, to the presence of the adult insect. Thus, calculations for PMI utilize the
timeline of the insects life stages to determine the time it took from colonization to the
beginning of the scene investigation. These estimates are based on the entomological information gathered at the scene. The slide in Figure 16.3 shows this schematically.
Forensic entomologists require specific types of information to make PMI calculations
(see Figure 16.3). Sometimes, the only people on the scene capable of providing some of
this information are the first ones present, which could be the first responder to the scene
or even someone not associated with the police but instead a passerby. Obtaining this
information is important, though. Usually, the appropriate information should be obtained
by a trained forensic entomologist or someone from the medical examiners office who is
trained to collect the data.
Still, scene scientists/investigators need to learn to recognize the stages of decomposition and the insects associated with each. By understanding metamorphosis and the insects
of interest, they will have the intellectual tools to know where to look for insects associated
with decomposition and they will be in a better position to protect the appropriate evidence at the scene.
So, to what extent should the scene scientist/investigator know or understand forensic
entomology? The answer is simple. Scene investigators are probably neither forensic entomologists nor medical examiners, and they should never make the calculations involved in
PMI estimations from the entomological data because there are variables that can affect
the PMI calculations. Also, it should not be assumed they will ever know how to identify
specific insects, except in the very broad sense. However, they can understand the fundamental approach forensic entomologists take to investigating a scene and thus can protect
entomological evidence from damaging effects stemming from the investigation. And,
with specific training, they can learn to obtain relevant data for subsequent use. Thus, their
role can be a crucial spoke in the wheel of the PMI estimation process.
From the slide in Figure 16.3, it is apparent that most of the data necessary for
PMI estimations are collected at the scene: obtaining the appropriate temperatures,
Data needed to calculate PMI intervals
Larval weight
Adult species
present at
scene
Temperatures
Ambient
Above body
Under body
Soil under body
Maggot mass if present
Time since
colonization
Larval length
pupal analysis
Dispersal
pattern
PMI
estimation
Postmortem
interval
Accumulated
degree hour
Weather data
460
capturing adult insect species, larvae, and pupae. If forensic entomological expertise
is not available, the scene scientist/investigator should immediately recognize the
need to obtain these important items of evidence. This begins with an understanding
of the deathdecomposition sequence and the insects associated with each stage.
Succession
Principal Insect
State of Decomposition
Time of Decomposition
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Fresh
Odor
Rancid fats
Ammonia/fermentation
Completely dry
First 3 months
36 months
48 months
112 months
13 years
Beetles
3+ years
Forensic Entomology
461
Figure 16.5 Larvae and soil collected from maggot trail. (Photograph by Robert C. Shaler.)
insects. When insects infest a body, they begin a biological clock that allows for the estimation of the PMI [4,5].
Although life-cycle analysis is well studied, estimations of PMI are just that, estimations. This does not imply that forensic entomology is not a science. It is, but given the
varying environmental conditions at outdoor crime scenes, the calculation of PMI is only
as good as the data collected from the scene and from existing and relevant weather data.
If it is cold, the life cycle will be longer than when it is warm. Forensic entomologists certainly understand this and try to account for varying conditions, but precise up-to-the
minute determinations are not possible.
Bloated Stage
Decay Stage
Description
-Begins @ moment of death until onset of
bloating.
- Characterized by early stages in
decomposition: algor morits and livor mortis (3).
-Putrefaction begins. Gases from anaerobes
cause inflation of abdomen.
-Temperature of carcass rises from putrefaction
and metabolic activity of Diptera larvae.
-Fluids seep from openings
-Soil under body becomes alkaline from larvae
under carcass.
-Normal soil fauna under body leaves.
-Begins when skin breaks (sometimes classified
as wet decomposition4)
-Gases escape.
-Remains deflate.
Post-decay Stage
Skeletal Stage
Insect Activity
-First insects are Blow flies (Calliphoridae)
and flesh flies (Sarcophagidae)
-Eggs deposited around natural body
openings and open wounds.
-Blow flies strongly attracted to remains
during this stage,
-Attraction reaches a maximum when the
body reaches its peak inflation.
-Some predatory Staphylinidea may be
present.
Forensic Entomology
463
Arthropod group
Necrophagous Species
-Diptera (Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae) - Flies
Predators and parasites of Necrophagous species
-Coleoptera
-Parasites of Diptera larva (necophages in early
decomposition become predators in later larval development)
Omnivorous Species
-Wasps, ants, beetles
-Feed on corpse and arthropods.
Adventive Species
-Use corpse as extension of normal habitat.
-Collembola, spiders, centipedes
-Acari - Fungi feeders
(Sarcophagidae). When these flies smell a dead body, they are drawn to it and begin laying their eggs, usually in orifices and open wounds. This process can take minutes or more
depending on factors such as concealment, time of the day, presence of drugs in the cadaver/
carcass, etc.
The presence of eggs on a body marks the first visible stage of insect development, and
it begins the progression from egg to adult, a process called metamorphosis or life stages.
For the bottle fly, there are four distinct stages: egglarvaepupaeadult. These are illustrated in Figure 16.6. The photograph on the right side of the slide shows the progression of
the development from larvae to pupae to adult.
Egg
Laid on dead animals
pale gray or yellowish
Larva
Metamorphosis
environment dependent
Adult
Fly larvae crawl until they
encounter a suitable place to pupate
464
Figure 16.7 Fly eggs in body orifices. (Photograph by Robert C.. Shaler)
Learning to recognize the manifestation of a decomposing body, that is, the stages of
decomposition, and to associate those with insects present at that stage requires knowledge
of entomology and training. For example, if flies are in the area and rice-like particles
(eggs) are present in the bodys orificesarrow in Figure 16.7 points to eggsthe following
facts can be determined.
The body is in the fresh stage of decomposition.
Other physical manifestations, such as body cooling (algor mortise), blood settling (livor mortis), or rigor (joint stiffening), should be noted and
photographed.
Fly eggs are present in the animals orifices and two bottle flies can be seen.
At this stage, larvae have not yet begun to form or, if they have, they have not dispersed far from the body.
The eggs should be collected appropriately.
The checklist below should be followed to ensure that no evidence is lost.
And depending on resources available and training, the important entomological
specimens and information should be collected.
If the stage of decomposition is more advanced, a larger number and species of insects
will be expected. Identifying them (at least photographically) is important, so it is the
responsibility of the investigative team to capture them properly. Ideally, again, the scene
scientist/investigator should collect all the different species present. The supplies and equipment required to do this are not expensive and should be easily attainable.
Forensic Entomology
467
Table 16.4 Equipment and Supplies for Collecting Insects and Larvae
Item
Reason
For collecting flies around area of dead body
specimen containers
Sifting screens
Shipping containers: Styrofoam containers with lids are Used to ship collected specimens to appropriate
best because they are insulated. Corrugated
cardboard boxes are cheap and commonly used
experts
data and specimens necessary for calculating the PMI. Table 16.4, adapted from Byrd [1],
shows a list of supplies and equipment required for collecting entomological evidence.
466
Method/Equipment Needed
Establishing, midrange and close up photographs
of all areas where insects and larvae/eggs are
found. Also video area and insect/larvae
relationships with body.
Reason
Showing relationship of body to area and close up
photos of larvae and other insects present. Video is a
good way to show relationship of area to body and
location of larvae and other insects.
Captures detail.
Take Temperatures
Ambient air
Under body
Maggot mass
Body temperature
Collecting Maggots
Forensic Entomology
to 1.5 meters from center of
dispersal. In another
quadrant, remove 1.5 cm to
3.0cm soil up to 6 meters
467
in the absence of a readily available entomologist, Table 16.5 can be used as a guide for collecting
entomological evidence to ensure that nothing is overlooked so that the entomologist can be given
the appropriate information required to determine the PMI.
After collecting the appropriate specimens, they should be taken to the medical examiners
office, which will ensure they are delivered to a forensic entomologist who works with the
medical examiner.
References
1. J. H. Byrd. Forensic entomology: Insects in legal investigations. Available at: http://www.
forensicentomology.com/definition.htm (accessed April 19, 2010).
2. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Metamorphosis. Available at: http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/metamorphosis (accessed September 15, 2010).
3. M. L. Goff. 1993. Estimation of postmortem interval using arthropod and successional patterns.
Forensic Science Review 5(2):8294.
4. S. C. Voss, S. L. Forbes, and I. R. Dadour. 2008. Decomposition and insect succession on cadavers inside
a vehicle environment. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 4:2232.
5. L. Gomes, W. Godoy, and C. J. Von Zuben, 2006. A review of postfeeding larval dispersal in blowflies:
Implications for forensic entomology. Naturwissenschaften 93:207215.
6. G. S. Anderson, 2005. Effects of arson on forensic entomology evidence. Canadian Society of Forensic
Science Journal, 38(2):4967.