FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY : THE USE OF INSECTS IN DEATH INVESTIGATIONS

 Dr. Gail S. ANDERSON

Diplomate, American Board of Forensic Entomology
Professor, School of Criminology
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, B.C.
V5A 1S6

Tel. 604 506 3441 (cell)

Email – ganderso@sfu.ca

1
Forensic (or medico-legal) entomology is the study of the insects associated with a human
corpse in an effort to answer several investigative questions. The primary use of forensic entomology is
to estimate elapsed time since death, by estimating the length of time that insects have been
associated with the body, or the post colonization interval. Insect evidence may also show that the body
has been moved to a second site after death, or that the body has been disturbed after death by the killer
returning to the scene of the crime. Insects can indicate the presence and position of wounds when they
are no longer visible and can also be used in abuse and neglect cases. However, the primary purpose of
forensic entomology today is to estimate elapsed time since death.
Forensic entomology is not a new science, in fact it is probably one of the oldest forensic
sciences. It was first reported to have been used in 10th Century China and was used sporadically in the
19th and the early part of the 20th Century in Europe, playing a part in some very major cases.
However, in the last 30 years, forensic entomology has become more and more common in police
investigations. In 1996, some of us developed the American Board of Forensic Entomology, a
certification Board for Forensic Entomologists, similar to the Board certification available for forensic
odontologists and forensic anthropologists.
There are two main ways of using insects to estimate elapsed time since death : -
1 - using maggot age and development.
2 - using successional waves of insects
The method used is determined by the circumstances of each case. In general, the first method is used
when death occurred less than a month prior to discovery and the second method is used when the
corpse has been dead for between a month up to a year or more.

1 In its broadest sense, forensic entomology is the study of insects involved in any legal action, and can include urban and
stored products entomology.
  Gail S. Anderson - Forensic Entomology 2

1. MAGGOT AGE AND DEVELOPMENT

This method can give a date of death accurate to a day or less, or a range of days, and is used in
the first few weeks after death. Maggots are larvae or immature stages of Diptera or two-winged flies.
The insects used in this method are those that arrive first on the corpse, that is, the Calliphoridae or
blow flies. These flies are attracted to a corpse very soon after death. They lay their eggs on the corpse,
usually in a wound, if present, or if not, then in any of the natural orifices. Their development follows a
set, predictable, cycle. These are very large metallic flies, with very colourful metallic green, blue or
black bodies.
The insect egg is laid in batches on the corpse and hatches, after a set period of time, into a first
instar (or stage) larva. The larva feeds on the corpse and moults into a second instar larva. The larva
continues to feed and develop into a third instar larva. The stage can be determined by size and the
number of spiracles (breathing holes). When in the third instar, the larva continues to feed for a while
then it stops feeding and wanders away from the corpse, either into the clothes or the soil, to find a safe
place to pupate. This non-feeding wandering stage is called a prepupa. The larva then loosens itself
from its outer skin, but remains inside. This outer shell hardens, or tans, into a hard protective outer
shell, or pupal case, which shields the insect as it metamorphoses into an adult. Freshly formed pupae
are pale in colour, but darken to a deep brown in a few hours. After a number of days, an adult fly will
emerge from the pupa and the cycle will begin again. When the adult has emerged, the empty pupal
case is left behind as evidence that a fly developed and emerged.
Each of these developmental stages takes a set, known time. This time period is based on the
availability of food and the temperature. In the case of a human corpse, food availability is not usually
a limiting factor. Insects are 'cold blooded', so their development is extremely temperature dependent.
Their metabolic rate is increased with increased temperature, which results in a faster rate of
development, so that the duration of development decreases in a linear manner with increased
temperature, and vice-versa. In other words, as temperature increases, insects develop faster and as it
decreases, they develop more slowly
An analysis of the oldest stage of insect on the corpse and the temperature of the region in
which the body was discovered leads to a day or range of days in which the first insects oviposited or
laid eggs on the corpse. This, in turn, leads to a day, or range of days, during which death occurred. For
example, if the oldest insects are 7 days old, then the decedent has been dead for at least 7 days. This
method can be used until the first adults begin to emerge, after which it is not possible to determine
which generation is present. Therefore, after a single blow fly generation has been completed, the time
of death is estimated using the second method, that of insect succession.

2. SUCCESSIONAL WAVES OF INSECTS

This method is based on the fact that a human body, or any kind of carrion, supports a very rapidly
changing ecosystem going from the fresh state to dry bones in a matter of weeks or months depending
on geographic region and season. During this decomposition, the remains go through rapid physical,
biological and chemical changes, and different stages of the decomposition are attractive to different
species of insects. Certain species of insects are often the first witnesses to a crime. They usually arrive
very rapidly after death if the season is appropriate i.e. spring, summer or fall in Canada and can arrive
within minutes in the presence of blood or other body fluids. These first groups of insects are the
Calliphoridae or blow flies and the Sarcophagidae (the flesh flies). Other species of insects are not
interested in the corpse when the body is fresh, but are only attracted to the corpse later such as the
Piophilidae or skipper flies which arrive later, during protein fermentation. Some insects are not
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attracted by the body directly, but arrive to feed on the other insects at the scene. Many species are
involved at each decomposition stage and each group of insects overlaps the ones preceding it
somewhat. Therefore, with a knowledge of the regional insect fauna and times of carrion colonization,
the insect assemblage associated with the remains can be analyzed to estimate a window of time in
which death took place. This method is used when the decedent has been dead from a few weeks up to
a year, or in some cases several years after death, with the estimated window of time broadening as
time since death increases. It can also be used to indicate the season of death e.g. early summer. A
knowledge of insect succession, together with regional, seasonal, habitat and meteorological variations,
is required for this method to be successful.

COLLECTING, PRESERVING AND PACKAGING SPECIMENS.

The first and most important stage of the procedure involved in forensic entomology involves
careful and accurate collection of insect evidence at the scene. This involves a knowledge of the insects
behaviour, therefore it is best performed by an entomologist. I am always willing to come to a scene
if it is possible. Unfortunately, due to distance, it is not always possible to get an entomologist to the
scene, so my evidence is dependent on accurate collection by the investigating officers. For further
details, a video on insect collection is available from R.C.M.P. “E” Division Training.
Samples of insects of all stages should be collected from different areas of the body, from the
clothing and from the soil or carpet etc. Insects will often congregate in wounds and in and around
natural orifices. The two main insect groups on bodies are flies (Diptera) and beetles (Coleoptera).
Both types of insect look very different at different stages of their lives.
COLLECTING BLOW FLIES
Blow Flies can be found as:-
- eggs (in egg masses usually)
- larvae or maggots (in a range of sizes from 1-2 mm to 17 mm)
- pupae and/or empty pupal cases
- adults.
EGGS - are very tiny, but are usually laid in clumps or masses so are easy to see, and are usually found
in a wound or natural orifice, but may be found where the body touches the substrate. They can be
collected with a child’s paint brush dipped in water or with forceps. Half should be preserved in 75-
95% ethanol (alcohol) or 50% isopropyl alcohol. The rest should be placed in a vial with a little damp
paper towel to prevent dehydration. If it will be more than a few hours before the entomologist receives
them, they should also be given a small piece of beef liver. Make sure there is tissue or sawdust present
if liver is added, to prevent drowning. The eggs need some air. Newly emerged maggots can escape
through holes, so piercing the lid is NOT ideal. Instead, a paper towel held over the top of the vial with
a rubber band is excellent, as long as the vial stays upright! (No lid other than the paper towel is
needed).
Note - Eggs are only of value when no maggots or later insect stages are present. If maggots are
already present, don’t worry about the eggs. However, If no maggots are present, and the only
insect evidence is eggs, then the eggs are very important and the time they hatch will be vital.
Therefore, observe the live eggs every few hours and please note time when they first start hatching
and the approximate percentage (e.g. 1015h 10% hatch, 1220 h 50% hatch, 1550 h 100% hatch). This
sort of evidence is particularly valuable when the body is fresh, and time of death to the hour is

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required, for instance, if someone returns home and finds their partner murdered, the first question will
be whether the murder took place before or after the person left the house earlier.
MAGGOTS will be found crawling on or near the remains and may be in maggot masses, which are
large masses of many maggots. You should collect maggots from any major area where you see
maggots, for instance, there may be maggots in the face and in the gut region. Each of these areas
should be sampled and kept separate. Large maggots are usually older so are most important, but
smaller maggots may belong to a different species so collect both large and smaller maggots with the
emphasis on larger maggots. Collect samples of maggots from different areas of the body and the
surrounding area, and keep them separate as older maggots at a site may indicate a possible wound.
Each exhibit should contain 100-200 maggots.
Half of the larvae in each exhibit should be preserved immediately for two reasons. Firstly, to show
the entomologist, if s/he is not present at the scene, what stage the larvae were when collected.
Preserving ‘stops the clock’. If not preserved, they will continue to develop, giving a misleading
impression to the entomologist when they are examined. Secondly, they are preserved at the scene to
produce as evidence in court.
The best method to preserve maggots is to drop them into very hot water for about 5 minutes, then
strain them and put them in ethanol. A thermos and dollar store tea strainer are useful additions to your
kit. If you do not have any hot water, then simply preserve them directly with ethanol (75-95% ethanol
or 50% iso-propyl alcohol).
The other half of each maggot exhibit should be kept alive. The living specimens should be placed in a
vial, with air and food (preferably beef liver), as for the eggs. Put a small piece of damp paper towel in
the vial and put the maggots on that. There should be only enough maggots to cover the bottom of the
vial. Too many in one vial will suffocate. Cover the opening with two layers of paper towel held in
place with an elastic band. Food in the form of beef liver should be added to the vial within a few hours
and before shipping.
When you have collected the maggots from the body, start searching for older stages. Once maggots
have completed feeding on the body, they will migrate into the surrounding soil or carpet, looking for a
safe place to pupate. As they are very vulnerable to bird predation at this time, they will usually burrow
a few centimetres into the soil or leaf litter. They may wander several metres from the body. Prepupal
maggots may also wander into and under clothing. Once maggots from the body have been collected,
then search around the body and in the top few centimetres of soil. If the body is not on soil, then the
maggots may have burrowed into carpet, or under clothing, appliances, planters etc. These maggots
should be collected in the same way as those from the body – half alive and half preserved and indicate
on the vials the distance from the body where they were collected.
When maggot masses are present, they generate a lot of heat, which speeds up development. Therefore,
please note:-
 the site of maggot masses and the size (photos are great)
 the temperature of each mass (thermometers can be acquired cheaply at drugstores)
 label which exhibits come from a particular mass.
PUPAE and EMPTY PUPAL CASES - these are extremely important and are easy to miss. They are
often found in clothing, hair or soil near the body, the same place as prepupal maggots. Maggots like
secure areas away from the wet food source in which to pupate so pockets, seams and cuffs are likely
hiding places, as well as soil. If the remains are found indoors, the prepupal maggots may have traveled

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some distance on hard floors to find clothing, rugs, boxes etc. to get under. The pupae range from 10-
20 mm, and are oval, like an American football. They are dark brown when completely tanned. Pupae
need some air, so secure a paper towel over vial as for eggs and maggots, as although the pupae are
immobile, if they emerge during transit, an adult fly can get out of anything! A piece of tissue in the
vial will help to avoid breakage as they are quite vulnerable. This can be very slightly moistened with
water, but be careful not to drown them. The moisture isn't necessary if the journey is not long. DO
NOT PRESERVE PUPAE! They won't grow, so the reasons for preserving larvae do not apply, and it
is almost impossible to identify a pupa until it emerges as an adult. I also cannot determine its exact age
until I find out the day on which it emerges. If a pupa is found when a pale colour, it is just entering
pupation, so please keep that specimen separate and label as pale coloured, as it will darken in a few
hours. Such a specimen can be aged to a matter of hours.
An empty pupal case is very similar to a pupa but is open at one end, where the adult fly has emerged.
Empty pupal cases are extremely important as they indicate that the entire life cycle has been
completed. They should be collected in a separate vial and cushioned with a bit of paper towel. No
food or air are required so the vial lid can simply be screwed back on.
ADULT BLOW FLIES - are less important than maggots and pupae. Adults are only of use in
indicating which species of insect are likely to develop from the corpse, as you cannot determine
whether an adult has developed on the corpse, or has just arrived from somewhere else to oviposit.
HOWEVER, if the fly has just emerged from the pupal case, it is extremely valuable as it can be
directly linked with the scene. If an adult fly has crumpled wings, it has just emerged, so IS still
important as it can be linked to the body. It should be collected, labeled as such, and kept separate. In
some cases, the blow fly will look as if the wings are dry, but it cannot yet fly. This is an important
observation. Adult blow flies that still have crumpled wings or cannot yet fly should be collected into a
vial without air or food as they only need a few hours to complete drying.

COLLECTING OTHER INSECTS

These are the insects most useful when analyzing the successional waves of insects.
OTHER FLIES may be present. These are usually smaller than the very noticeable blow flies. Larvae
should be placed alive in a vial with damp paper towel inside and some dry paper towel as a lid. Small
larvae that curl up and ‘skip’ or jump are called skippers and these are important specimens. Boiling
and preserving are not necessary. Pupae should be collected in the same way as larvae but in a separate
vial. In these cases, adults are important as their simple presence indicates a particular elapsed time.
These can be collected using a small damp paint brush and placed straight into a vial with ethanol.
BEETLES - can be found as adults, larvae (or grubs) pupae and also as cast skins. All stages are
equally important. They move fast and are often found under the body, and in and under clothing. They
can be placed in vials with some air. They are cannibals so should not be placed in the same vial
together!! It is often simplest to put the beetles directly into alcohol. You can designate one vial a
‘beetle’ jar and fill it half full with alcohol. Then drop any adult beetles or beetle larvae directly into
the alcohol.
OTHER SAMPLES - Soil and leaf litter samples will also be useful. About half a coffee can size of
soil from very near the body is useful. Half fill the can, leaving room for some air.
LABELING - Insects collected from one part of the body should be kept separate from those from
another area. Different species should be kept separate as beetle larvae feed on fly larvae! If they look
different, separate them. Each vial should be labeled with :-
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 area of body/soil
 date and time of collection
 name of collector
 stage e.g. larvae, so that if the specimens are pupae when I receive them. I will know that they
developed into the next stage during transit.
HANDLING - most specimens are fairly fragile and are probably best picked up with forceps, a spoon
or gloved fingers. Very tiny or delicate specimens can be picked up using a child’s paint brush dipped
in water or alcohol depending on what you are about to do with them. Make sure all the vials are very
well sealed!
PACKAGING - The insects should be taken to the entomologist as soon as possible. They should be
couriered or hand delivered to maintain continuity. They should be packaged in a cardboard box as this
has lots of air. Each vial can be taped so that it remains upright. The whole box must remain upright.
Ship as “live” so that the package is not frozen in a luggage compartment of a plane.
I need to know many other factors about the death site :-
HABITAT -
 general - is it woods, a beach, a house, a roadside?
 vegetation - trees, grass, bush, shrubs?
 soil type - rocky, sandy, muddy?
 weather - at time of collection, sunny, cloudy?
 temperature and possibly humidity at collection time
 elevation and map coordinates of the death site
 is the site in shade or direct sunlight?
 mention anything unusual, such as whether it's possible that the body may have been submerged
at any time.
REMAINS - I need to know :-
 presence, extent and type of clothing
 is the body buried or covered? if so, how deep and with what (soil, leaves, cloth)
 what is the cause of death, if known? in particular, is there blood at the scene? or other body
fluids?
 are there any wounds? if so, what kind?
 are drugs likely to be involved? this may affect the developmental rates
 what position is the body in?
 what direction is the body facing?
 what is the state of decomposition?
 is a maggot mass present? how many? this will affect the temperature on the body
 what is the temperature of the centre of the maggot mass(s)?
 is there any other meat or carrion around that might also attract insects?
 is there a possibility that death did not occur at the present site?

IF THE BODY IS REFRIGERATED AT THE MORGUE before the collection (it is much
better to collect at the scene, but sometimes that is not possible) then I also need to know the exact time
that the body went into the cooler, and the exact time it came out.

PHOTOGRAPHS, and/or a video of the scene, the body in situ and the site after removal of
the body are also extremely useful.
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PROCEDURE WHEN THE EXHIBITS REACH MY LAB

When the insects reach the insectary, the live immature specimens are measured, and examined,
then placed in a jar containing a suitable feeding media. In the case of blow flies, this is usually beef
liver, which is placed on top of sawdust. When the insects reach the prepupal stage and leave the food
source they will burrow into the sawdust to pupate. When the adults emerge, they are killed and
preserved. Each insect has a detailed label.
The reasons for raising the live maggots and pupae are two-fold. Firstly, larvae are very difficult
to identify to species, but adults have many more diagnostic features. Secondly, the dates of pupation
and emergence are used to help calculate the age at the time of collection. All preserved insects are
measured and examined.
I use the live specimens to determine the species of insect and the preserved ones to determine
stage of development. Together this tells me the oldest stage of insect on the body and the species. I
also need:
 weather records from the nearest weather station, including temperature and precipitation
 the distance between the death site and the weather station
These are usually obtained from the Environment Canada website and it is helpful if you can indicate
which is the most appropriate weather station to use.

CASE EXAMPLE
This method of estimating elapsed time since death using insect evidence can be demonstrated
using an actual case. Human remains were found in mid October. Most of the head region was missing
as death was due to gunshot wounds. The upper portion of the body was almost skeletonized, but the
lower area, clad in tight clothes, appeared almost fresh. All sizes of larvae were collected and three
pupae. These were pale in colour so had only just pupated. No puparia or empty pupal cases were
found. The mean temperature at the death site was 15oC.
Two species of blow fly emerged, Calliphora vomitoria and Phormia regina. Both are common
species that are amongst the first to arrive on a corpse. The oldest stage of Calliphora vomitoria
collected was just entering the prepupal stage of the third instar. This was determined from size,
number of spiracular slits (breathing holes), date of pupation and behaviour, in that the largest
specimens immediately left the beef liver and entered the sawdust, indicating that they had stopped
feeding. At the temperature of the deathsite, 15oC, Calliphora vomitoria takes a minimum of 9.3 days
to reach the beginning of the prepupal stage of the third instar. So these insects were a minimum of 9
days old when collected on 12 October, meaning that they were laid as eggs on or before 4 October. As
there was blood at the scene, the insects probably arrived very soon after death. Therefore, these insects
indicate that death must have occurred on or before 4 October.
Using the same techniques for Phormia regina, the oldest specimens of which were in the pupal
stage when collected, it was calculated that Phormia regina was oviposited no later than 3 October.
Therefore, using the two insects together, it can be shown that death occurred on or before 3 October.
Other evidence later showed that death had actually occurred on 3 October.

OTHER USES FOR INSECTS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE

 the body may have been moved after death, from the scene of the killing to a hiding place. Some
of the insects on the body may be native to the first habitat and not the second. This will show that

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not only was the body moved, but it will also give an indication of the type of area where the
murder actually took place, and when the body was moved.
 the body may have been disturbed after death, by the killer returning to the scene of the crime.
This may disturb the insects cycle, and the entomologist may be able to estimate not only the date
of death, but also the date of the return of the killer.
 the presence and position of wounds, decomposition may obscure wounds. Insects colonize
remains in a specific pattern, usually laying eggs first in the facial orifices, unless there are wounds,
in which case they will colonize these first, then proceed down the body. If the maggot activity is
centred away from the natural orifices, then it is likely that this is the site of a wound. For example,
maggot activity on the palm of the hands indicates the probable presence of defense wounds.
 the presence of drugs can be determined using insect evidence. There is often not enough flesh
left to determine drug presence, but maggots bioaccumulate so can be analyzed to determine type of
drug present (not by an entomologist but by the usual lab toxicologist.
 DNA - in rare situations, police may receive information that a body is at a certain site, but when
they arrive, the killer has removed the remains. Maggots may have fallen off the body and may be
found at the scene. Maggots store food in a part of the gut called the crop and this can be seen as a
large dark red area at the front half of the maggot when it is feeding. This dark red material is tissue
from the body and could be extracted by a DNA specialist and used to indicate that the insects had
been feeding on a human and possibly to individualize the victim. If such evidence is needed,
maggots should be collected and either frozen or placed in very high % ethanol (e.g. 95% ethanol)
Do not put in hot water first.
 insects can be used to place a suspect at the scene of a crime. For instance, an insect inside a
cocklebur was used to connect a rapist to the rape site.
 civil cases also sometimes use insect evidence.
 child or senior abuse/neglect. Some insects will colonize wounds or unclean areas on a living
person. This is called cutaneous myiasis. In these cases, the victim is still alive, but maggot
infested. A forensic entomologist will be able to tell when the wound or abuse occurred. For
instance, in the case of neglected children, the onset of maggot infestation will give a minimum
time interval since the child last had a diaper change. Such cases occur particularly in young
children and seniors.

Although forensic entomology can be very effective in estimating elapsed time since death, it
has its limitations :-
1. - The temperature of the death site is obviously a very important factor, but few criminals are
thoughtful enough to kill their victim right underneath a weather station! In most cases, the weather
records come from several miles away. We are trying to overcome this by setting up a miniature
weather station at the death site after discovery, to compare these data with that from the weather
station, in order to determine the difference between the two sites, if any. Also the microclimate of the
corpse itself will be slightly different from the surrounding area, especially if a maggot mass is present.
Therefore, it is extremely important to know whether masses are present.
2. - Forensic entomology in Canada is seasonal, that is, it is only commonly used in spring, summer,
and fall when insects are abundant. It is of less use in winter, unless its very mild, as there are no or
very few insects present. This can be a limitation, but can also be an advantage as I can sometimes
show that a victim found in spring was killed the previous fall if insect evidence is present.
3. - The results are not immediate, as it takes time to rear the insects.
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4. - The body may have been disposed of in a way that excludes insects e.g.
a) freezing - if the body was frozen for a period of time before being placed outside on, for
example, 8 May, the insects would only invade then, giving the misleading impression that death had
occurred on 8 May. However, other forensic experts would be able to determine whether or not the
body has been frozen, and insect evidence will still estimate time of exposure.
(b) burial - if the body is buried deeply, then most insects will be excluded. However, most
criminal burials are not very deep, as the aim is merely to conceal the body, and most insects will dig
down to the body, particularly if there is blood soaked in the soil. Therefore, insect evidence can still be
used.
(c) wrapped - if the body is wrapped or packaged in some way the insects may be excluded, but
the wrapping must be completely secure. A body part was found sealed in a garbage bag which had
been tied securely at the top, but the remains were maggot-infested, and showed severe insect damage.
The adult females had probably laid their eggs at the knot, and the minute first instar larvae had
crawled in.
5. Drugs - the presence of drugs may affect the development of the insects.

COLLECTION KIT
An insect collection kit is cheap and easy to assemble. All you need are:
 A supply of vials with screw lids (urinalysis vials work well)
 A bottle of water (for dampening paper towel)
 A bottle of ethanol (alcohol), 75-95% ethanol or 50% iso-propyl alcohol.
 Forceps
 Teaspoon
 Paint brushes (such as a child’s paint brush)
 Paper towels (as found in most public washrooms, quite stiff and thick)
 Elastic bands
 Thermos (for hot water)
 Tea strainer (dollar store)
 Thermometer – grocery store, in gadget aisle, used for testing roasts.
 Trowel

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 COLLECTION OF INSECT EVIDENCE

DR. GAIL S. ANDERSON, Forensic Entomologist - contact via :

Cell - 604 506-3441 (24h)

Police file number Date Time

Date found Time found

Location found

Officer in Charge tel. email

Collecting officer tel. email

Weather conditions at collection time (rain and temp.)

DEATH SCENE

Rural
forest ..........., tillable field ..........., pasture ..........., brush ..........., roadside ...........,
barren area ..........., beach ..........., gulley .........., ditch .........., (water present?, how much) ..........,

Please describe

Urban
closed building ..........., open building ..........., vacant lot ..........., pavement ...........,
trash container ..........., closet ..........., on carpet ..........., on hard floor ...........,

Please describe

Aquatic
pond ..........., lake ..........., creek ..........., river ..........., irrigation canal ...........,

submergence level ...........,

Ground body resting on

on soil directly? ..........., sandy ..........., rocky ..........., muddy ..........., other ...........,
on vegetation? ..........., describe type and height
  Gail S. Anderson - Forensic Entomology 2

DESCRIPTION OF REMAINS

clothing
burial? How deep? what is covering?

wounds? type where?

Body position

Exposure
full sunshine partial sunshine how long/day? shade

Stage of decomposition

PHOTOGRAPHS
General scene ..........., habitat surrounding body ..........., body ..........., wounds ...........,

maggots mass (s) ..........., insect activity ..........., ground beneath body after removal ...........,

INSECT EVIDENCE
Are there any maggot masses (very large no. of maggots all together in a ball)?

If so, how many , where , temp. of centre

Description of insect evidence - e.g. maggots, pupae, adult beetles, larval beetles etc.

Samples :- collect from the body itself, and from the ground (soil or carpet) below and around the body. If on soil
or loose material, the insects may be several centimetres down, and on any surface may be up to 50-100 cm or
more away from the body. Older maggots will crawl away from the body to pupate, so may be still maggots, or
may be pupae, which are 5mm-1cm long, red-dark brown, and look somewhat like a chocolate rice crispy. It is very
important to know whether pupae or empty pupal cases are present and to collect them. They are quite delicate - do
not preserve them. Only preserve maggots. Only some maggots should be preserved, at least half should be kept
alive. Preserve them by immersing in hot water for a few minutes then putting them in ethanol (75-95%)

Updated 2012
  Gail S. Anderson - Forensic Entomology 3

Samples from? :-

wounds ........., face ........., genitals, if exposed ........., general body area ........., under body .........,

where body meets ground ........., clothing ........., in pockets, cuffs etc. .........,

from soil around body .........., from soil when body removed ...........,

please search soil beneath and around body for maggots, beetles, pupae or empty pupal cases.

If remains were refrigerated at morgue, and collection was performed at autopsy :-

Time and date body entered the cooler :- ...................................................................

Time and date body removed from cooler :- ...................................................................

Exhibit no. site collected from i.e. area of type e.g. maggots, beetle Approx. number maggots
body or soil larvae, flies, beetles preserved - DO NOT
KILL PUPAE!

Keep maggots and beetles (adult or larvae) separate.

Keep samples from different sites separate.
Put live maggots in vial with a piece of paper towel, and some food, preferably beef liver (about 1 cubic inch).
Cover with paper towel and elastic band.

Signature of Collector
Updated 2012