The Science of Forensic Entomology

Preface
How to use this textbook
About the companion website
** Chapter 1: Role of forensic science in criminal investigations
Overview
1.1 What is forensic science?
1.2 Application of science to criminal investigations
1.3 Ensuring “good” science in forensic analysis
1.4 Recognized specialty disciplines in forensic science
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References cited
Supplemental reading
Additional resources
** Chapter 2: History of forensic entomology
Overview
2.1 Historical records of early human civilizations suggest understanding of insect biology and ecology
2.2 Early influences leading to forensic entomology
2.3 Foundation for discipline is laid through casework, research, war, and public policy
2.4 Turn of the twentieth century brings advances in understanding of necrophagous insects
2.5 Forensic entomology during the “great” wars
2.6 Growth of the discipline due to the pioneering efforts of modern forensic entomologists leads to acceptance by judicial systems and public
2.7 Forensic entomology in the twenty‐first century is characterized by increased casework and development of professional standards
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 3: Role of insects and other arthropods in urban and stored product entomology
Overview
3.1 Insects and other arthropods are used in civil, criminal, and administrative matters pertinent to the judicial system
3.2 Civil cases involve disputes over private issues
3.3 Criminal law involves more serious matters involving safety and welfare of people
3.4 Administrative law is concerned with rulemaking, adjudication, or enforcement of specific regulatory agendas
3.5 Stored product entomology addresses issues of insect infestations of food and stored products
3.6 Urban entomology is focused on insects invading human habitation
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 4: Introduction to entomology
Overview
4.1 Insecta is the biggest class of the biggest phylum of living organisms, the Arthropoda
4.2 The typical adult insect has three body parts, six legs, two antennae, compound eyes, external mouthparts, and wings
4.3 Tagmosis has produced the three functional body segments of insects: the head, thorax, and abdomen
4.4 Sensory organs and their modifications allow insects to perceive and react to their environments
4.5 The structure and function of an insect’s digestive system is intimately tied to the food that it prefers to eat
4.6 A tubular tracheal system transports oxygen to the body’s cells while blood moves through the body without the aid of a vascular system
4.7 The nervous system of insects integrates sensory input and drives many aspects of behavior
4.8 In order to grow, insects need to shed their “skin”
4.9 Many insects appear and behave in an entirely different way as a larva than as an adult – the magic of metamorphosis
4.10 The desire to reproduce is a driving force for unique reproductive behaviors and copulatory structures in insects
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 5: Biology, taxonomy, and natural history of forensically important insects
Overview
5.1 A variety of different insects and terrestrial arthropods are attracted to a dead body
5.2 The fauna of insects feeding on a body is determined by location, time, and associated organisms
5.3 Necrophagous insects include the taxa feeding on the corpse itself
5.4 Parasitoids and predators are the second most significant group of carrion‐frequenting taxa
5.5 Omnivorous species include taxa which feed on both the corpse and associated arthropods
5.6 Adventitious species include taxa that use the corpse as an extension of their own natural habitat
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
** Chapter 6: Reproductive strategies of necrophagous flies
Overview
6.1 The need to feed: anautogeny and income breeders are common among necrophagous Diptera
6.2 Size matters in egg production
6.3 Progeny deposition is a matter of competition
6.4 Larvae are adapted for feeding and competing on carrion
6.5 Feeding aggregations maximize utilization of food source
6.6 Mother versus offspring: fitness conflicts
6.7 Resource partitioning is the path to reproductive success
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 7: Chemical attraction and communication
Overview
7.1 Insects rely on chemicals in intraspecific and interspecific communication
7.2 Chemical communication requires efficient chemoreception
7.3 Semiochemicals modify the behavior of the receiver
7.4 Pheromones are used to communicate with members of the same species
7.5 Allelochemicals promote communication across taxa and kingdoms
7.6 Chemical attraction to carrion
7.7 Chemical attraction to carrion by subsequent fauna
7.8 Chemical attraction to bacteria on carrion
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 8: Biology of the maggot mass
Overview
8.1 Carrion communities are composed largely of fly larvae living in aggregations
8.2 Formation of maggot masses is more complex than originally thought
8.3 Larval feeding aggregations provide adaptive benefits to individuals
8.4 Developing in maggot masses is not always beneficial to conspecifics or allospecifics
8.5 Larval aggregation may benefit Coleoptera too!
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 9: Temperature tolerances of necrophagous insects
Overview
9.1 Necrophagous insects face seasonal, aseasonal, and self‐induced (heterothermy) temperature extremes
9.2 Temperature challenges do not equal death: necrophagous insects are equipped with adaptations to survive a changing environment
9.3 Life‐history features that promote survival during proteotaxic stress
9.4 Deleterious effects of high temperatures on necrophagous flies
9.5 Life‐history strategies and adaptations that promote survival at low temperatures
9.6 Deleterious effects of low‐temperature exposure
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 10: Postmortem decomposition of human remains and vertebrate carrion
Overview
10.1 Decomposition of human and other vertebrate remains is a complex process
10.2 Numerous factors affect the rate of body decomposition
10.3 When the heart stops internal changes occur almost immediately but are not outwardly detectable
10.4 Body decomposition is characterized by a series of recognizable changes in physical appearance
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 11: Insect succession on carrion under natural and artificial conditions
Overview
11.1 What’s normal about terrestrial decomposition? Typical patterns of insect succession on bodies above ground
11.2 Succession patterns under forensic conditions are not typical
11.3 Several factors serve as barriers to oviposition by necrophagous insects
11.4 The physical conditions of carrion decay can function as a hurdle to insect development
11.5 Insect faunal colonization of animal remains is influenced by conditions of physical decomposition
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 12: Decomposition in aquatic environments
Overview
12.1 Decomposition of human remains in water is different than on land
12.2 Ecological functions of human remains in aquatic ecosystems
12.3 Why are there no truly necrophagous aquatic insects on carrion?
12.4 Associations between freshwater insects and terrestrial carrion
12.5 Terrestrial insects are still interested in dead bodies in water
12.6 A postmortem interval cannot be determined with aquatic insects
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References cited
Supplemental reading
Additional resources
** Chapter 13: Microbiomes of carrion and forensic insects
Overview
13.1 Microbes of a corpse are important sources of information
13.2 Microbial communities exist on living and dead hosts
13.3 Estimation of the postmortem interval using microbes
13.4 Microbes and insects are intimate members of the necrobiome
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 14: Postmortem interval
Overview
14.1 The time since death is referred to as the postmortem interval
14.2 The role of insects in estimating the PMI
14.3 Modeling growth–temperature relationships
14.4 Calculating the PMI requires experimental data on insect development and information from the crime scene
14.5 The evolving PMI: changing approaches and sources of error
14.6 Total body scores influenced by insect development
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References cited
Supplemental reading
Additional resources
** Chapter 15: Insect stains and artifacts
Overview
15.1 Bloodstains are not always what they appear to be at the crime scene
15.2 Science is the cornerstone of bloodstain pattern analyses
15.3 Crash course in bloodstain analyses
15.4 Insect activity can alter blood evidence
15.5 Insect feeding activity can modify the morphology of bloodstains and yield transfer patterns
15.6 Ingested blood may be expelled as digestive artifacts
15.7 Parasitic insects can confound blood evidence by leaving spot artifacts
15.8 How can insect stains be detected?
Chapter review
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References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 16: Necrophagous and parasitic flies as indicators of neglect and abuse
Overview
16.1 Parasitic and necrophagous flies can infest humans, pets, and livestock
16.2 Myiasis can be classified based on anatomical location or degree of parasitism
16.3 The conditions that promote facultative myiasis are predictable
16.4 Chemoattraction of flies to the living does not necessarily differ from the odors of death
16.5 Necrophagous and parasitic flies display oviposition and development preferences on their vertebrate “hosts”
16.6 Larval myiasis can be fatal
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 17: Wildlife forensics
Overview
17.1 Hunting is governed by laws on what species can be killed, how many can be killed, and when they can be killed
17.2 Necrophagous insects that feed on and breed in wildlife show similarities to the fauna found on pigs and humans, but there are differences
17.3 The same methods used to determine minimum PMI for a human case can be used for animals, but the growth rate might be a little different
17.4 Insects may be able show evidence of poisons that lead to death of domestic animals and wildlife
17.5 Insects can provide evidence for crimes involving domestic animals and pets
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References cited
Supplemental reading
Additional resources
** Chapter 18: Forensic Entomotoxicology
Overview
18.1 Insects can serve as surrogates for human tissues
18.2 Detection of drugs, toxins, and pollutants in carrion-feeding insects
18.3 Detection of gunshot and explosive residues in or using insect
18.4 Chemical impact on insect succession and development
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References cited
Supplemental reading
Additional resources
** Chapter 19: Application of molecular methods to forensic entomology
Overview
19.1 Molecular methods – living things can be defined by their DNA
19.2 Evidence collection: preserve the DNA integrity
19.3 Molecular methods of species identification
19.4 DNA barcoding protocol
19.5 Problems encountered in barcoding projects
19.6 Gut content: victim and suspect identifications
19.7 Molecular methods and population genetics
19.8 Molecular methods: non‐DNA based
19.9 Validating molecular methods for use as evidence
19.10 Future directions
Chapter Review
Test your understanding
References cited
Supplemental reading
Additional resources
** Chapter 20: Archaeoentomology
Overview
20.1 Archaeoentomology is a new “old” discipline
20.2 Concepts and techniques from forensic entomology can be applied to archaeology
20.3 Ancient insects and food: connection to stored product entomology
20.4 Ancient insects as pests: beginnings of synanthropy and urban entomology
20.5 Ancient insects and burial practices: revelations about past lives and civilizations
20.6 Forensic archaeoentomology: entomological investigations into extremely “cold” cases
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 21: Insects as weapons of war and threats to national security
Overview
21.1 Terrorism and biological threats to national security are part of today's world
21.2 Entomological weapons are not new ideas
21.3 Direct entomological threats to human populations are not all historical
21.4 Impending entomological threats to agriculture and food safety
21.5 Insect‐borne diseases as new or renewed threats to human health
21.6 Insects can be used as tools for national security
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References cited
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 22: Insects and arthropods that cause death
Overview
22.1 Insects that bite, sting or secrete cause fear, loathing, and death
22.2 Insects that cause death
22.3 Human envenomation and intoxication by insect‐derived toxins
22.4 Insects that injure humans rely on chemically diverse venoms and toxins
22.5 Non‐insect arthropods that cause death
22.6 Implications of deadly insects for forensic entomology
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References cited
** Chapter 23: Professional standards and ethics
Overview
23.1 General standards and recommendations for forensic science disciplines
23.2 Guidelines for the practice of forensic entomology
23.3 Expectations for forensic entomology technicians
23.4 Ethical considerations for involvement in casework and providing testimony
Chapter review
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References
Supplemental reading
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** Chapter 24: Forensic entomology case studies
Overview
24.1 Case studies are important to understanding the context of insect evidence to legal investigations
24.2 Insect evidence associated with homicides and suspicious deaths
24.3 Entomological evidence associated with forensic entomotoxicology
24.4 Postmortem interval determination using insects on a burned corpse
24.5 Insect evidence associated with an indoor decomposition
24.6 Entomological evidence associated with aquatic decompositions
Chapter review
Test your understanding
References
Supplemental reading
Additional resources
Appendix I: Collection and preservation of calyptrate Diptera
Collecting adult flies
Collecting fly larvae
Mounting and preserving specimens (adult flies)
References cited
Resources and links
Appendix II: Getting specimens identified
Morphological identification of specimens on your own
Identification of specimens (by systematic expert)
References cited
Resources and links
Appendix III: Necrophagous fly and beetle life table references
Appendix IV: Current names for species in Aldrich’s Sarcophaga and allies
Glossary
Index
End User License Agreement

A thoroughly updated introduction to forensic entomology

In the newly revised second edition of The Science of Forensic Entomology, two distinguished entomologists deliver a foundational and practical resource that equips students and professionals to be able to understand and resolve questions concerning the presence of specific insects at crime scenes. Each chapter in the book addresses a topic that delves into the underlying biological principles and concepts relevant to the insect biology that grounds the use of insects in legal and investigational contexts.

In addition to non-traditional topics, including the biology of maggot masses, temperature tolerances of necrophagous insects, chemical attraction and communication, reproductive strategies of necrophagous flies, and archaeoentomology, the book also offers readers:

• A thorough introduction to the role of forensic science in criminal investigations and the history of forensic entomology
• Comprehensive discussions of the biology, taxonomy, and natural history of forensically important insects
• Fulsome treatments of the postmortem decomposition of human remains and vertebrate carrion
• In-depth introduction to the concepts of accumulated degree days and the use of insect development for estimation of the postmortem interval
• New chapters dedicated to forensic entomotoxicology, aquatic insects in forensic investigations, microbiomes of forensic insects and carrion, professional standards, and case studies

Perfect for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in forensic entomology, forensic biology, and general forensic science, The Science of Forensic Entomology will also earn a place in the libraries of law enforcement and forensic investigators, as well as researchers in forensic entomology