Lecture 14 Flashcards
What factors influence the growth rate of forensic insects (like maggots)?
emperature:
Warmer = faster
Cold = slower or may stop (diapause)
Food:
Less food = smaller maggots, but same speed
Drugs:
Cocaine/amphetamines = faster growth
Insecticides (like Malathion) = slower growth
What factors can affect when and how insects get to a dead body? (colonization)
Location: Indoors/outdoors, sun/shade, forest/field
Temperature & Time: Many insects avoid cold or nighttime
Clothing or Wrapping: Can block or slow insect access
Burial/Drowning: Even a little soil or water can delay colonization
Body Movement: Moving the body can change the insect types found
Drugs/Chemicals: Some drugs (like insecticides) can delay insect activity
What insect clues suggest a body was moved or hidden?
Larvae or pupae found at a different site (where the body was before)
Missing early insects (like blowflies) on exposed body → may have been hidden earlier
Insect species don’t match the local area (wrong habitat)
How can insects show signs of abuse or neglect?
myiasis
How can insects help detect drug use when a body is badly decomposed?
Larvae (like maggots) feed on the body and absorb drugs present in tissues
larvae can show drug traces
Useful for detecting small amounts of drugs or poisons
How can insects help identify sexual abuse in forensic cases?
Pubic lice found on the victim may have a blood meal containing DNA
DNA extraction from the lice’s blood meal can help identify the suspect
