Research Paper Sample: Forensic Entomology

Forensic entomology refers to the application of insect in determining the time since death (post-mortem interval) of a decomposing human body (Gennard). The insect found near, in, and around the corpse are gathered and inspected to estimate the definite period since the death occurred. When the decomposition is extreme for the medical professionals to determine the post-mortem interval forensic entomology can be applied to give the solution. The most used species in carrying forensic entomology investigation are the beetles and blowflies. The two have a s life cycle which an insect undergo to form a complete metamorphosis. The investigator examines the current stage of the bug around or in the dead body and the compare with the duration the insect require to reach that cycle in the metamorphosis. Accurate estimation of time death serves importance be it an accident, murder or natural death. In the case of any doubt what coursed the Death and there are either civil or criminal matter the solution can be got by estimating when the death occurred. The primary objective of this paper, therefore, is to determine the application of forensic entomology. In the study, we will be discussing why insect are the most reliable indicators of determining the time since death (post-mortem intervals) (Amendt).

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The first forensic test was recorded in China 13th century in a medico-legal journal. This was a case of a person after being stabbed to death in a rice field, and then the lawyer filed a case. The following day the investigator started the investigation with knowledge he would get traces of blood in the weapon used to stab the man. After enquiring from the workers in the field and no answer was given he ask the employees to place all the tools on the table and the blowflies were attracted to the weapon with blood traces. The tool owner after interrogation confessed that he was the one who committed the crime.

During the first three days of death, the medical examiner is given the accurate report of when death took place. This is dependent of the condition in which body is fall and the temperatures. After seventy-two hours are, offer it become impossible for the medical experts to know the time of death and there is a need an alternative method to do the investigation. This is where forensic entomology is applied. By using, the specific species of insect lifecycle the forensic entomologist can estimate the time since death whether hours, day, weeks and months. It is said that beginning of the post-mortem interval relates with when the insect first laid the egg on the corpse. After discovering the body, the entomologist observes it identify the oldest species colonizing in the body and its current stage of development (J. e. Amendt). Using this information the entomologist can give the accurate estimated time of death.

Realistically speaking there not decomposition stages that exist. The stages characteristic depending on the body condition can be mixed up. Decomposition stages are classified into five that is; fresh, bloated, fresh decay, advanced decay, and skeleton. In the first stage, there are no any physical changes to the dead body. The initial arthropods colonization is evidence at this stage. After first few minute of death a chemical is realized which attract the blowflies and after three hours eggs may be laid on the body. In the bloat stage, the maggots are active.

In active decay the body release of fluids, slippage and skin marbling. The insect and maggot activity increase rapidly at this stage. After this, there no flesh in the body only some hair remaining hence adult insect are no more during advanced decay and skeleton stage.

In this study, we consider blowflies to be the most reliable in determining time since death for they undergo through complete metamorphosis, unlike other species. The different stage looks different hence it easy to estimate the age of the insect which converts to giving accurate information about Post-mortem interval. Blowfly undergoes three stages that is; egg, larva, pupa and adult.

The adult blowflies will lay the eggs on flesh body mouth, ears, wounds and any opening 15 minutes after death. The two-millimeter eggs will stay in the corpse for eight hours without being noticed. This stage will last for twenty-four hour as the eggs matures. After the egg stage, the next stage is the three larval stages. The three larval stage are of different length ranging from L1 which is two millimeters and L3 which is up to twenty-two millimeters. The L3 are the largest and at this level, they start to move finding a place to form the pupa. The prepupa starts migrating after eight to twelve days since the eggs were laid. After 18-24 days, the prepupa become a pupa and forms something like darkness as they age. The pupa the start to push out of the operculum, empty operculum, therefore, is an indication that the body has stayed not less than twenty-four since the death occurred (Merritt and Benbow.).

For more than a century now forensic entomology has been accepted by the court to provide evidence. This has been attributed to the scientific principles, which are associated with the development of insects. The evidence collected and presented by the entomologist should be gathered and examined precisely and accurately. Insect samples should be collected in different body areas clothing and soil. Information such as soil type, vegetation, weather, sunlight, elevation and temperatures need accurate recording. It is also good to note how the body was covered, type of clothes, body direction, and the decomposition stage observed.

The work forensic entomologist involves providing scientific information, which can be used for a legal purpose or other scientific investigation. Some of crime cannot be solved without the collection of entomological evidence. The entomologist should there be objective in his investigation and avoid any bias.

Last year a body of a young male was discovered along the highway. After the autopsy to determine the cause of death, it was found that man was stabbed in the neck and head using a sharp object. Kevin was reported to be missing by his father five days before the body was discovered. The main suspect was his neighbor who was last seen with him on Monday. There was circumstantial evidence that his neighbor killed him but the time of death was not there to show what might transpire the tragedy. The medical examiner approximated the time when the death could have taken place. Since the doctor report, we based on approximate depending on the stage of decomposition of the body the result could not be used in court since it is not accurate. To solve this case the investigator had to use entomological evidence collected at the crime scene. Several insects were gathered around a body and on the victim neck wound. The investigator collected some larvae and placed into preservation liquid to discover the development stage. Weather information including rainfall humidity, wind speed/ direction, cloud cover, and temperature were corrected and recorded. All this data was gathered to determine the accurate date of death. The investigator was, therefore, able to determine the actual time of mortality. The analysis by entomologist confirmed the first arthropod colonized the corpse four days ago and the victim was last seen with his neighbor. After questioning and interrogation, the suspect admitted killing Kevin by stabbing him seven times using a knife. The suspect pleaded guilty was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Since Second World War, very few crime investigators have determined crime scene in the forensic entomology field. Many investigators find it difficult to support the need for them using forensic entomology to help their evidence in the criminal investigation. The court will require the investigator to prove that entomological evidence is required for the case to continue which court deny in most cases. Today the forensic entomology is mostly applied in murder of wildlife animals (Gennard).

As the investigator, require information that is more accurate the forensic entomology play a key role in improving criminal justice in our courts. Today technology has increase hence the entomological investigation is likely to be more detailed and accurate hence new possibility in this field. It is there the role of the government to channel more resource to ensure that research required by the experts is done. With the new technology, forensic technology will therefore be very efficient and effective way of carrying investigations on post-mortem intervals.

Work cited

Amendt, Jens, et al. ""Forensic entomology: applications and limitations." ." Forensic science, medicine, and pathology 7.4 (2011): 379-392.

Amendt, Jens, et al., eds. Current concepts in forensic entomology. r, . Dordrecht:: Springe, 2010.

Gennard, Dorothy. Forensic entomology: an introduction. . John Wiley & Sons, , 2012.

Merritt, Richard W., and M. Eric Benbow. "Entomology." Wiley Encyclopedia of Forensic Science. 2009.