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PredictingTime of Death Using Entomology
PredictingTime of Death Using Entomology
http://users.usachoice.net/~swb/forensics/BF.htm
*based on "Visible Proofs" Forensic Views of the Body, Department of health and Human Services, 23 October 2006
www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproofs
Title: Sep 218:09 PM (1 of 18)
What do the following terms mean?
a. entomology
b. entomologist
c. insect life cycle
d. postmortem interval (PMI)
Title: Sep 218:11 PM (2 of 18)
Blowfly Introduction
lays eggs on dead animals to provide food for its
larvae
blowfly life cycle is part of dead body decomposition
process
can estimate time of death by evaluating stages of
blowfly growth on cadavers
scientist must make:
visual observations
collect insect evidence
determine stages of development
calculate time of initial deposit of eggs
Title: Sep 218:15 PM (3 of 18)
in lab scientist grows specimens to confirm
species and study growth stages
scientist then makes an estimate of time of death
Title: Sep 218:22 PM (4 of 18)
Blowfly Life Cycle
http://www.cmnh.org/site/Img/ResearchandCollections/InvertZoo/124_blowflylifecycleRW.jpg
Title: Sep 218:31 PM (5 of 18)
Fly egg masses
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/forensic.htm
Title: Sep 219:24 PM (6 of 18)
larva first instar stage
http://www.deathonline.net/decomposition/corpse_fauna/flies/maggots.htm
Title: Sep 219:11 PM (7 of 18)
Larva second instar stage
http://www.deathonline.net/decomposition/corpse_fauna/flies/maggots.htm
Title: Sep 219:12 PM (8 of 18)
Larva third instar stage
http://www.deathonline.net/decomposition/corpse_fauna/flies/maggots.htm
Title: Sep 219:13 PM (9 of 18)
Fly Pupae
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/forensic.htm
Title: Sep 219:14 PM (10 of 18)
Table 1. Accumulated Degree Hour (ADH) of the
Green Bottle Fly
ADH (ACCUMULATED DEGREE
FROM TO TEMPERATURE HOURS HOUR)
70 DEGREES F 27
70 DEGREES F 22
70 DEGREES F 130
70 DEGREES F 143
Title: Sep 218:35 PM (11 of 18)
Based on the chart:
How many hours does it take for a green bottle
fly to become an adult fly?
Days and hours?
Title: Sep 218:50 PM (12 of 18)
How long, in hours, would it take a maggot
beginning at the second instar stage to reach the third
instar stage if the temperature was 77 degrees F?
Title: Sep 218:52 PM (13 of 18)
At what temperature would you need to keep the
pupa to have the adult fly emerge in 7 days?
Title: Sep 218:53 PM (14 of 18)
Table 2: Constants and Variables
CONSTANT VARIABLE
LIFE CYCLE STAGES
TEMPERATURE
TIME BETWEEN THE LIFE CYCLE STAGES
ADH
Title: Sep 218:54 PM (15 of 18)
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/_fpclass/forensic21.jpg
Title: Sep 219:27 PM (16 of 18)
Title: Mar 1011:34 AM (17 of 18)
Title: Mar 911:26 AM (18 of 18)