FORENSIC ENTOMOL-OGYBy. Jessica Yun 9D

WHAT IS FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY?

Forensic Entomology is a study of insects in legal cases.

Uses insects and their arthropod relatives in crime scene.

Forensic Entomologists estimates the time of death by investigating the age of insects.

THREE TYPES OF FORENSIC ENTO-MOLOGY:

1. Medicolegal section: to investigate the necrophagous (eating dead body) feeding insects in the dead body.

2. Urban aspects: to deal with any insects that af-fect human beings and their surrounding environ-ments.

3. Stored product pests: to examine any stored product insects that are found in food products.

HOW DOES THE ENTOMOLOGY RE-LATE TO FORENSIC SCIENCE?

Estimate the time of death by investigating the age of in-sects (based on their weight and length).

Absence of typical insects on the dead body can be a key clue to investigation.

Can identify if the victim has been abused or not.

When insects have eaten the dead body, DNA can be found from its digestive system. This can help to find a suspect.

WHAT TYPES OF INSECTS ARE USED IN FORENSIC ENTOMOL-OGY? Flies: Flies prefer a moist corpse for their maggots,

because they can feed their maggots and moist body is much easier to chew.

Beetles: Beetles are generally found in more de-composed corpse. In drier condition, the beetles can be replaced by moths.

Mites: Some mites feed on the dead body in their early stages of decomposition while the other types of them feed on dry skin of dead body in later stages of decomposition.

Moths: Moths are similar to butterflies and they feed on human hair. They are the final insects contribut-ing to the decomposition of a corpse.

HOW DO YOU BECOME QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THIS FIELD OF FORENSIC SCI-ENCE?

1. Start as soon as you can get involved with the essential as-pects of this job.

2. Plan on getting a B.A. in Science, a Master’s Degree in a re-lated specialty, most preferably Doctorate in Entomology.

3. Find a position in any area that is related to Forensic Ento-mology.

4. Join an association in the Forensic Entomology field to share information.

5. Get enough experiences to have a certification.

BIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.ehow.com/how_4518274_become-forensic-entomologist.html

http://www.ehow.com/fact_5566704_forensic-entomology.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask

http://www.forensicentomology.com/info.htm

http://wiki.benecke.com/index.php?title=1998_Journal_of_Forensic_Science:_Six_forensic_entomology_cases:_description_and_commentary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_entomology