Page 68 - Veritas - 02.03.22

HOW INSECTS

REVEAL THE TIME

OF THE DEATH OF

A CORPSE

Ms. Anchal Ojha

When a suspicious death occurs, forensic entomologists are called to as-

sist the crime scene. It is because of the presence of insects in the crime

scene, especially the insects present near the corpse. Insects have the

ability to reveal information about a corpse’s time of death.

Insects are one of the major clues present in the crime scene. It is be-

cause insects colonize the corpse in a predictable sequence, also known

as insect succession. The very first to arrive on the corpse are necroph-

agous because of the strong scent of decomposition. Then comes blow-

flies and flesh flies, as they can invade a corpse within a minute after

the death. Soon after the death, approx. 30 minutes after, other insects,

including house flies, dermestid beetles, and other predatory and par-

asitic insects, arrive to feed on the mag gots and beetle larvae. Eventu-

ally, as the corpse dries, hide beetles and cloth moths find the remains.