Forensic entomology uses insects and their life cycles to help determine important details for investigating crimes and death investigations. The succession of insects that colonize a corpse follows predictable stages and can help estimate the post-mortem interval, which is the time since death. Temperature affects the development and growth of insects, so understanding these relationships is important for using insects to estimate timelines in forensic investigations.

1. Forensic Entomology

2. An Introduction to Forensic Entomology Dead men do tell tales……

9. Fresh Stage

10. Bloated Stage

11. Decay Stage

16. Flesh Flies Family name: Sarcophagidae Most flesh flies breed in dead animals, dung, or decaying material, but a few species lay their eggs in the open wounds of mammals; hence their common name.

26. Scarab Beetles Family Scarabaeidae Like the dermestids, scarab beetles arrive when the body is completely dry

34. Succession 1 2 3 6 4 Fresh Bloated Decay Post-Decay Dry 5

45. Temperature-Dependent Development of Flies

47. Isomegalen Diagram for Phaenicia (= Lucilia ) sericata 8 mm maggot 24 C daily max. 16 C daily min. 8

49. Data for Controlled Rearing Complete lifecycle: egg-adult Unknown portion Known portion Total for the species Species Lower Threshold (  C) ADH ADD Phaenicia sericata 10 4140 - 5812 173 - 242 Phormia regina 10 4038 - 6100 168 - 254 Calliphora vomitoria 6 17678 737 Cynomyopsis cadaverina 6 5511 379

51. THE END