Forensic Entomology: An Introduction

290 Pages·2012·7.59 MB·English

by  Dorothy Gennard

Forensic Entomology

Forensic Entomology
An Introduction, Second Edition
Dorothy Gennard
University of Lincoln, UK
With guest chapter by Krzysztof Szpila
University of Turun´, Poland
Thiseditionfirstpublished2012(cid:1)2012byJohnWiley&Sons,Ltd
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Gennard,Dorothy
Forensicentomology:anintroduction/DorothyGennard;withguest
chapterbyKrzysztofSzpila.–2nded.
p.;cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-0-470-68902-8(cloth)–ISBN978-0-470-68903-5(pbk.)
I.Title.
[DNLM: 1.Entomology–methods. 2.ForensicSciences–methods.
3.Insects–classification. 4.PostmortemChanges.W820]
6140.1–dc23 2011043531
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FirstImpression 2012
Contents
List of plates ix
List of figures xiii
List of tables xvii
Preface xix
Acknowledgements xxi
1 The scope of forensic entomology 1
1.1 Forensicentomologyinurbancontexts 1
1.2 Storedproductinfestationandforensicentomology 2
1.3 Forensicentomologyinthemedico-legalcontext 3
1.4 Thehistoryofforensicentomology 6
1.5 Professionalassociationsforforensicentomologists 9
1.6 TheUKregulatorforforensicscience 10
1.7 Webaddressesofrelevantorganisations 11
2 Forensic entomology, DNA and entomotoxicology 12
2.1 Preparationofspecimensformolecularanalysis 15
2.2 Methodsofanalysisandsourcesofinformation 16
2.3 Alternativemethods 20
2.4 Validityofmethodologies 21
2.5 Theuseofothermolecularmeansofinsectspeciesdetermination 23
2.6 Insectsandentomotoxicology 24
2.7 Forensicapplicationsofarthropodbehaviourforchemicalanalysis 27
3 Insects and decomposition 29
3.1 Indicatorsof‘timeofdeath’ 29
3.2 Stagesofdecompositionofabody 30
3.3 Volatilesreleasedfromthebodyduringdecomposition 36
3.4 Decompositioninspecificcircumstances 38
vi CONTENTS
4 Identifying flies that are important in forensic entomology 42
4.1 WhatisaflyandhowdoIspotone? 48
4.2 Theflylifecycle 53
4.3 Forensicallyimportantfamiliesofflies 60
4.4 Membersofotherordersthathaveforensicrelevanceinaquaticcases 73
4.5 Reviewtechnique:larvalspiraclesormouthparts–preparationof
wholeslidemounts 75
5 Key for the identification of European and Mediterranean
blowflies(Diptera,Calliphoridae)ofmedicalandveterinary
importance–adultflies 77
5.1 Introduction 77
5.2 Key 80
6 Identifying beetles that are important in forensic entomology 82
6.1 Whatdobeetleslooklike? 82
6.2 Thelifestagesofthebeetles 87
6.3 Selectedforensicallyrelevantfamiliesofbeetles 88
6.4 Featuresusedinidentifyingforensicallyimportantbeetlefamilies 89
6.5 IdentificationofbeetlefamiliesusingDNA 97
6.6 KeytoselectedforensicallyrelevantfamiliesintheorderColeoptera 98
7 Sampling at the crime scene 101
7.1 Entomologicalequipmenttosamplefromacorpse 101
7.2 Catchingadultflyinginsectsatthecrimescene 104
7.3 Thesamplingstrategyforthebody 106
7.4 Samplingataquaticcrimescenes 108
7.5 Obtainingmeteorologicaldataatthecrimescene 109
8 Rearing insects and other laboratory investigations 111
8.1 Transportingentomologicalevidencetothelaboratory 111
8.2 Laboratoryconditionsforflyrearing 112
8.3 Methodsofmaintainingandrearinginsects–terrestrialspecies 113
8.4 Dietaryrequirementsofinsectsrearedinthelaboratory 116
8.5 Beetlerearinginthelaboratory 117
8.6 Methodsofmaintainingaquaticspecies 119
9 Calculating the post mortem interval 121
9.1 Workingoutthebasetemperature 123
9.2 Accumulateddegreedata 124
9.3 Calculationofaccumulateddegreehours(ordays)fromcrime-scenedata 127
9.4 Sourcesoferror 128
9.5 Useoflarvalgrowthinlengthtodeterminepostmorteminterval
(isomegalendiagramsandisomorphendiagrams) 130
9.6 Calculatingthepostmortemintervalusingsuccession 132
CONTENTS vii
9.7 Theeffectsofhymenopteranparasitoidsonpostmortemintervaldetermination 137
9.8 Reviewtechnique:interpretationofdatafromacrimescenecasestudy 137
9.9 Furtherreading 138
10 Ecology of forensically important flies 139
10.1 Ecologicalrelationshipsofsomeforensicallyrelevantfamilies 140
10.2 Specificfamilyfeatures 144
10.3 Flyinfestationoftheliving 151
10.4 Fliesinfluencingthecrimescene 154
11 The ecology of some forensically relevant beetles 156
11.1 Ecologyofcarrionbeetles(Silphidae) 157
11.2 Ecologyofskin,hide,andlarderbeetles(Dermestidae) 159
11.3 Ecologyofclownbeetles(Histeridae) 163
11.4 Ecologyofchequeredorbonebeetles(Cleridae) 164
11.5 Ecologyofrovebeetles(Staphylinidae) 165
11.6 Theecologyofdungbeetlesandrelatedfamilies 166
11.7 Ecologyofgroundbeetles(Carabidae) 168
12 Investigations in an aquatic environment 169
12.1 Decompositionandsubmergenceinwater 170
12.2 Thenatureofthewaterbodiesinwhichsubmergencemaytakeplace 176
12.3 Methodsofestablishingtimesincecorpsesubmergence–
indicatorspecies 179
12.4 Attractantstothecorpse 182
12.5 Methodsofculturingaquaticinsects 182
12.6 Algaeanalternativesourceofdeterminingtimesincesubmergence 182
13 The forensic entomologist in court 184
13.1 Theexpert’sreport 185
13.2 Thecontentoftheexpert’sreport 187
13.3 Theforensicexpertinthecourtroom 194
13.4 Communicatingentomologicalfactsincourt 195
13.5 Physicalevidence:itscontinuityandintegrity 195
13.6 Thecodeofpracticeforexperts 196
13.7 Useofsinglejointexperts 198
13.8 Practicalassignment–writinganexpertreportusingthepost
mortemcalculationsgeneratedfromChapter9 198
13.9 Furtherreadingonpresentationincourt 198
13.10 Web siteaddresses 199
Appendices 201
Glossary 205
References 216
Index 241