Entomology Facts...

1. Forensic entomology deals with the application and study of insects and other arthropods related to legal issues. Three components of forensics include:
   
   • Urban - legal proceedings involving insects and related animals that affect man made structures and other aspects of the human environment.
     
   • Stored products - proceedings involving insects infesting stored commodities.
     
   • Medicolegal -
     • Relates to determination of the time (postmortem internal or PMI) or site of human death.
     • Cases involving possible sudden death
     • Traffic accidents with no immediate obvious cause.
     • Possible misuse of insects
       
       
2. Carrion insects / arthropods:
   • Diptera (flies) -
     • Calliphoridae (blow flies)
     • Sarcophagidae (flesh flies)
     • Muscidae (filth flies)
     • Phoridae, Piophilidae, others
   • Coleopters (Beetles) -
     • Silphidae (carrion beetles)
     • Staphylinidae (rove beetles)
     • Dermestidae (dermestid beetles)
     • Others
   • Others
     
     
3. Collection, procedures & analyzing entomological evidence
   • The collection and preservation of insect specimens at a death scene is imperative. Several websites provide extensive details and guidelines on the collection, procedures and analytical techniques of entomological evidence. The following websites provide useful forensic entomology information:
     • www.uio.no/~mostarke/forens_ent/forensic_entomology.html
     • www.missouri.edu/~agwww/entomology/index.htm