Forensic Entomology
An Introduction
Chapter One
The breadth of forensic
entomology
Forensic entomology is the branch of forensic science in which information about
insects is used to draw conclusions when investigating legal cases relating to
both humans and wildlife, although on occasion the term may be expanded to
include other arthropods. Insects can be used in the investigation of a crime
scene both on land and in water (Anderson, 1995; Erzinclioglu, 2000; Keiper
and Casamatta, 2001; Hobischak and Anderson, 2002; Oliveira-Costa and de
Mello-Patiu, 2004). The majority of cases where entomological evidence has been
used are concerned with illegal activities which take place on land and are discovered
within a short time of being committed. Gaudry et al. (2004) commented that
in France 70% of cadavers were found outdoors and of these 60% were less than
1 month old.
The insects that can assist in forensic entomological investigations include
blowflies, flesh flies, cheese skippers, hide and skin beetles, rove beetles and clown
beetles. In some of these families on ... read full excerpt from Forensic Entomology: An Introduction ebook
