Lesson 1

Question 1

Forensic Entomology

Answer 1

The study of insects and other arthropods that feed on decaying remains to aid legal investigations

Question 2

X’tics of insects

Answer 2

Have a segmented body
Pair of antennae
Chitinous exoskeleton
Invertebrates
Most have wings
Some undergo homometabolous ( complete metamorphosis)
Jointed legs

Question 3

Evidence may be in the form as

Answer 3

Nymphs
Adults
Pupae
Larvae
Eggs
Insect body parts

Question 4

Fxn of exoskeleton

Answer 4

Defense mechanism
Outer layer called cuticle
Attachment of muscles
Protection against predators & dessication

Question 5

Insect skin

Answer 5

Sclerites ( hardened plates put together through seams and sutures)

Question 6

Why don’t insects go extinct ??

Answer 6

Camouflage
Ability to thrive in harsh conditions
Lay more eggs
Ability to lay in small crevices
Short life cycle

Question 7

Application of insects

Answer 7

Inhabit in human remains
Damage to structures
Infestation of foodstuffs

Question 8

Families in Order Diptera

Answer 8

Calliphoridae
Muscidae
Piophilidae
Sarcophagidae

Question 9

Family Calliphoridae

Answer 9

1. Large population of medium sized flies
2. Attracted to carrion and excrement
3. Some are attracted to open wounds
4. Provide info for the accurate estimation of PMI
   Egs. green and blue bottle fly, calliphora, chrysoma, clusterfly

Question 10

Family Sarcophagidae

Answer 10

1. Flesh eating insects
2. Feed on exposed meat & carrion
3. Parasitic on other insects e.g. bees, wasps
4. Cause myiasis and may be involved in the transmission of diseases
5. Can be found in both the early & late stages on decomposition in carcasses
   Egs. sarcophaga, s. carnaria

Question 11

Family Muscidae

Answer 11

1. First attracted to excrement and carrion after blowflies
2. Present only in the presence of excrement and gut contents exposed
   Egs. houseflies, Musca,muscina, stablefly

Question 12

Family Piophilidae

Answer 12

1. Scavengers
2. Feed on dry high protein foods
3. Found in carrion, waste, fur

Question 13

Families in order Coleoptera

Answer 13

Silphidae: carrion beetle
Dermestidae: skin, leather, hide, carpet, larder beetles
Staphylinidae: rove beetles
Histeridae: clown beetles
Cleridae: checkered beetles

Question 14

What attracts insects to decomposing bodies

Answer 14

Apeneumones

Question 15

Autolysis

Answer 15

The digestion of cells by enzymes

Question 16

Apeneumones produced to attract insects

Answer 16

Methane, ammonia, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen, copper, carbon dioxide, H2S

Question 17

Medio legal forensic entomology

Answer 17

Focuses on violent crimes
Traffic accidents with no immediately obvious cause
Determination of PMI
Case involving sudden death
Possible criminal misuse of insects eg. bees used to kill

Question 18

PMI

Answer 18

Time between time of death and body discovery

Question 19

Uses of PMI

Answer 19

Movement of the corpse
Manner and cause of death
Association of suspects with the death scene (sickle story)
Detection of toxin, drugs/ even the DNA of the victim through analysis of insect larvae

Question 20

Homometabolous

Answer 20

Undergo all stages of insects

Question 21

Hemimetabolous

Answer 21

Doesn’t involve a pupal stage
But involves nymphs

Question 22

Fxns of F.E

Answer 22

Identifies immature insects
Calculates the growth & passage through stages of life cycle
Determine the size and development of insects
Compares the growth against weather conditions to estimate the time of oviposition
Collects & preserve insects as evidence
Testifies in court to explain insect-related evidence found at crime scenes
Determine an estimation for PMI using factors like insect evidence, weather conditions , location & conditions of the body

Question 23

Uses of insects in forensic science