Forensic EntomologyForensic Entomology

Joyce ChanJoyce Chan

Instructor: Mary VillaniInstructor: Mary Villani

Modified by Marlon Beech

What is Forensic What is Forensic Entomology?Entomology?

► Entomology is the Entomology is the study of insectsstudy of insects

► Forensic Entomology Forensic Entomology is the application of is the application of using arthropods in using arthropods in legal investigationslegal investigations

► It is typically sub-It is typically sub-grouped into: Urban, grouped into: Urban, Stored-Product, and Stored-Product, and MedicolegalMedicolegal

Urban EntomologyUrban Entomology

► Urban: pest Urban: pest infestations in infestations in buildings or gardens buildings or gardens that may be the that may be the basis of litigation basis of litigation between private between private parties and service parties and service providersproviders

Stored-Product Stored-Product EntomologyEntomology

► Stored-product: Stored-product: used in litigation used in litigation over infestation or over infestation or contamination of contamination of commercially commercially distributed foods by distributed foods by insectsinsects

Medicolegal EntomologyMedicolegal Entomology

►Medicolegal: used in Medicolegal: used in litigation over litigation over criminal actions by criminal actions by people, in cases people, in cases such as murder, such as murder, rape, suicide, rape, suicide, physical abuse, etc.physical abuse, etc.

History of Forensic Entomology: History of Forensic Entomology: The Earliest CaseThe Earliest Case

► Sung Tz'u (1235 AD) – Chinese “death Sung Tz'u (1235 AD) – Chinese “death investigator”investigator”

► Wrote Wrote The Washing Away of WrongsThe Washing Away of Wrongs► First forensic entomology case recordedFirst forensic entomology case recorded► A murder by slashing occurred in a village, A murder by slashing occurred in a village,

and the local death investigator was ordered and the local death investigator was ordered to solve the crime. The investigator had all to solve the crime. The investigator had all villagers bring their sickles to one spot and villagers bring their sickles to one spot and lay them out before the crowd. Flies were lay them out before the crowd. Flies were attracted to one of the sickles, probably attracted to one of the sickles, probably because of invisible remnants of tissue still because of invisible remnants of tissue still remaining on it, and the owner subsequently remaining on it, and the owner subsequently broke down and confessed to the crime. broke down and confessed to the crime.

InsectsInsects

►Name comes from Latin Name comes from Latin insectusinsectus, , meaning “cut into sections,” referring meaning “cut into sections,” referring to the segmented bodies of insectsto the segmented bodies of insects

►Major group of ArthropodsMajor group of Arthropods►Most diverse group of animals on EarthMost diverse group of animals on Earth►Over 1 million speciesOver 1 million species►Two groups: Apterygota (wingless) and Two groups: Apterygota (wingless) and

Pterygota (winged)Pterygota (winged)

ArthropodsArthropods

►Means “jointed Means “jointed foot,” all foot,” all arthropods have arthropods have jointed legsjointed legs

► Largest phylum of Largest phylum of animals: includes animals: includes insects, arachnids, insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and crustaceans, and many othersmany others

Faunal SuccessionFaunal Succession

► Insects arrive at the Insects arrive at the scene in a predictable scene in a predictable series of progressionseries of progression

► Used to determine Used to determine time of deathtime of death

► Can be affected by: Can be affected by: temperature, sun temperature, sun exposure, location of exposure, location of body, as well as the body, as well as the surrounding surrounding environmentenvironment

Faunal Succession ChartFaunal Succession Chart

First Wave: BlowfliesFirst Wave: Blowflies

► First to arrive at the First to arrive at the scenescene

►Member of the Member of the CalliphoridaeCalliphoridae family family

►Metallic in Metallic in appearanceappearance

► Usually blue, green, Usually blue, green, or blackor black

► 10-12 mm in length10-12 mm in length► Ability to “smell” Ability to “smell”

death 10 miles awaydeath 10 miles away

Second Wave: Flesh FliesSecond Wave: Flesh Flies

► Part of the second Part of the second wavewave

► Member of the Member of the SarcophagidaeSarcophagidae familyfamily

► Breed in carrion, Breed in carrion, dung, or decaying dung, or decaying material material

► Some breed in open Some breed in open wounds of mammalswounds of mammals

Third Wave: Dermestid Third Wave: Dermestid BeetlesBeetles

►Member of the Member of the Coleoptera familyColeoptera family

► Common names Common names include: larder include: larder beetle, hide beetle, hide beetle, carpet beetle, carpet beetle, and beetle, and kharpa beetlekharpa beetle

► Some species Some species cause millions of cause millions of dollars worth of dollars worth of damage to fibersdamage to fibers

► Life cycle is about Life cycle is about 45 days45 days

Later Waves: MitesLater Waves: Mites

►Belongs to subclass AcarinaBelongs to subclass Acarina►Have existed for over 400 million Have existed for over 400 million

yearsyears►Over 45,000 species of mitesOver 45,000 species of mites►Usually found in warm locationsUsually found in warm locations

ProtocolProtocol

► Scene inspectionScene inspection►Weather DataWeather Data► Collection at Collection at

crime scenecrime scene► Shipment of Shipment of

evidence to labevidence to lab►Analyzed by Analyzed by

forensic forensic entomologistentomologist

Scene Inspection Scene Inspection

Includes observing:Includes observing:►general habitat and surrounding areageneral habitat and surrounding area►surrounding foliage and florasurrounding foliage and flora►Sun and shade conditionsSun and shade conditions►Proximity to outdoors if scene is Proximity to outdoors if scene is

indoorsindoors►All information should be notedAll information should be noted►Photos should be takenPhotos should be taken

Weather Data CollectionWeather Data Collection►Ambient air Ambient air

temperaturetemperature►Maggot mass Maggot mass

temperaturetemperature►Ground surface Ground surface

temperaturetemperature► Temperature between Temperature between

body and surfacebody and surface► Temperature of soil Temperature of soil

underneath bodyunderneath body►Weather data from 1-2 Weather data from 1-2

weeks prior including weeks prior including rainfall and maximum rainfall and maximum and minimum and minimum temperaturestemperatures

Collection at Crime Scene: Flies Collection at Crime Scene: Flies and Beetlesand Beetles

► Adult Flies and beetles: Adult Flies and beetles: move quick and disperse move quick and disperse when disturbedwhen disturbed

► Net : regular insect nettingNet : regular insect netting► Killing Jar : cotton swabs Killing Jar : cotton swabs

soaked in ethyl acetatesoaked in ethyl acetate► Ethyl Alcohol: 75%Ethyl Alcohol: 75%► Label: geographical Label: geographical

location, date and hour of location, date and hour of collection, case number, collection, case number, location to where body was location to where body was moved, name of collector (in moved, name of collector (in graphite pencil, placed graphite pencil, placed inside vial. Second exterior inside vial. Second exterior label also necessary)label also necessary)

Collection at Crime Scene: Collection at Crime Scene: LarvaeLarvae

► Search for presence of eggsSearch for presence of eggs► Collect largest larvaeCollect largest larvae► Collect representative sample of 50-60 larvaeCollect representative sample of 50-60 larvae► Place directly in killing solution or ethyl Place directly in killing solution or ethyl

alcoholalcohol► To preserve: boil for 30 seconds within 48 To preserve: boil for 30 seconds within 48

hourshours► Each Maggot mass is treated as separate Each Maggot mass is treated as separate

sitessites

Collection at Crime Scene: Live Collection at Crime Scene: Live SampleSample

►After collection of primary samples, After collection of primary samples, duplicate samples for live shipmentduplicate samples for live shipment

►Place in specimen containerPlace in specimen container►Place beef liver or pork meat in moist Place beef liver or pork meat in moist

environmentenvironment►Seal and create air holesSeal and create air holes

Collection at the Crime Scene: Collection at the Crime Scene: After Body RemovalAfter Body Removal

►Collect preserved and living samplesCollect preserved and living samples►Collect soil samplesCollect soil samples►Collect litter samplesCollect litter samples►Collect 2-3 inches of top soilCollect 2-3 inches of top soil►All samples placed in cardboard All samples placed in cardboard

container for shipmentcontainer for shipment

ShipmentShipment

►All samples should be promptly All samples should be promptly shipped to forensic entomologistshipped to forensic entomologist

►Overnight express using USPS (US Overnight express using USPS (US Mail) or United Postal Service (UPS)Mail) or United Postal Service (UPS)

►Fed Ex and other services do not ship Fed Ex and other services do not ship preserved or live insectspreserved or live insects

Equipment and ToolsEquipment and Tools

►Aerial insect netsAerial insect nets18” wood handle18” wood handle12” diameter12” diameter

►VialsVials4 dram4 dramscrew capscrew cap

► ForcepsForceps“feather-touch”“feather-touch”thin & flexible metalthin & flexible metal

Books on Forensic Books on Forensic EntomologyEntomology

►Forensic Entomology Forensic Entomology Gennard, Gennard, Dorothy E.Dorothy E.

►Entomology and the Law: Flies Entomology and the Law: Flies as Forensic Indicators as Forensic Indicators Greenberg, BernardGreenberg, Bernard

►Forensic Entomology Forensic Entomology Byrd, Byrd, Jason H., Castner, James L.Jason H., Castner, James L.

SourcesSources

► InformationInformation► http://www.forensic-entomology.com/► http://www.clt.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/112507/http://www.clt.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/112507/

fse07_forensic_entomology.pdffse07_forensic_entomology.pdf► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_entomologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_entomology► http://research.missouri.edu/entomology/http://research.missouri.edu/entomology/► http://www.biologycorner.com/bio1/notes-http://www.biologycorner.com/bio1/notes-

arthropods.htmlarthropods.html► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliphoridaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliphoridae► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_flyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_fly► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermesteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermestes► http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.htmlhttp://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.html

Sources: ImagesSources: Images► http://www.evidentcrimescene.com/cata/kits/9200.jpg► http://www.gonbi.com/Website/Images/sfaxhttp://www.gonbi.com/Website/Images/sfax

%2010(2)04/3drywooddroppings.jpg%2010(2)04/3drywooddroppings.jpg► http://husky1.smu.ca/~dstrongman/GSWpigwork5Aug05.jpghttp://husky1.smu.ca/~dstrongman/GSWpigwork5Aug05.jpg► http://entomology.lsu.edu/faculty/huang_files/huangearworm.jpghttp://entomology.lsu.edu/faculty/huang_files/huangearworm.jpg► http://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/mutant_flies/yellow-fly.gifhttp://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/mutant_flies/yellow-fly.gif► http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/arthropod_chart.gifhttp://www.biologycorner.com/resources/arthropod_chart.gif► http://www.clt.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/112507/http://www.clt.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/112507/

fse07_forensic_entomology.pdffse07_forensic_entomology.pdf► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fly_liquidGhoul.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fly_liquidGhoul.jpg► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Australian_sheep_blowfly.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Australian_sheep_blowfly.jpghttp://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sarcophagid_sal.jpg► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Houseflies.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Houseflies.jpg

Sources: ImagesSources: Images► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Anthrenus_verbasci_1_%28aka%2

9.jpg► http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v405/n6784/images/http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v405/n6784/images/

405276ab.0.jpg405276ab.0.jpg► http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/_fpclass/forensic21.jpghttp://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/_fpclass/forensic21.jpg► http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~psyc351/Images/Fed%20Ex%20Logo.jpghttp://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~psyc351/Images/Fed%20Ex%20Logo.jpg► http://www.franchisepick.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/http://www.franchisepick.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/

WindowsLiveWriter/IsUPSStoreaGoodFranchiseOpportunity_B7AD/WindowsLiveWriter/IsUPSStoreaGoodFranchiseOpportunity_B7AD/UPS150%5b3%5d1.jpgUPS150%5b3%5d1.jpg

► http://bimedia.ftp.clickability.com/wtmjwebftp/weather/7daya.jpghttp://bimedia.ftp.clickability.com/wtmjwebftp/weather/7daya.jpg► http://www.centralfloridaeffects.com/crime3.jpghttp://www.centralfloridaeffects.com/crime3.jpg► http://www.a1services-wms.com/USERIMAGES/flies.jpghttp://www.a1services-wms.com/USERIMAGES/flies.jpg► http://ipmworld.umn.edu/chapters/maize/Black%20Cutwormhttp://ipmworld.umn.edu/chapters/maize/Black%20Cutworm

%20Larvae.jpg%20Larvae.jpg► http://johnbokma.com/mexit/2006/07/04/ant-larvae-various-http://johnbokma.com/mexit/2006/07/04/ant-larvae-various-

stages.jpgstages.jpg► http://www.tonyboon.co.uk/aerogel/images/aerogel-shipment-box.jpghttp://www.tonyboon.co.uk/aerogel/images/aerogel-shipment-box.jpg