Forensic Entomology

Forensic entomology deals with the application of arthropods and insects in the investigation of legal matters. The areas of investigation include arthropods and insect infestation of raw and processed food items, invasion of human habitation and material structures, and infestation of dead and decomposing bodies. These forensic entomology branches are known as stored or food product entomology, urban entomology, and medico-legal entomology, respectively. Insects are known to exhibit a distinct pattern of succession in the decomposing body. The arrival of the first insect, the blowfly, sets off a biological clock that catalyzes the response of other insects to invade the corpse. The established successional pattern of insect infestation is useful in the determination of postmortem interval (PMI) in the medico-legal context. Moreover, medico-legal entomology is also used in the investigation of criminal acts such as rape, homicide, suicide, translocation of the dead body, drug abuse, abuse and neglect of the elderly, cruelty to animals, personal identification, insect species identification, and geographical origin of species. Factors such as temperature, presence of clothing and wrappings around the body, pH of the burial soil, and depth of burial can delay the arrival of insects and the rate of decomposition. The integration of scientific techniques in the field of forensic entomology has fundamentally expanded our understanding of these tiny creatures and enhanced their admissibility in the settlement of legal matters.