Insect-driven forensics: Homicide investigation

5^th International Conference on Forensic Research & Technology

October 31-November 02, 2016 San Francisco, USA

Ke Chung Kim

Pennsylvania State University, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Forensic Res

Abstract :

Insects are practically everywhere on Earth except the ocean and these hexapods are closely associated with humans. That makes important forensic bedfellows, whereas homicide involves two humans at a site, either indoor or outdoor. Aside relatively common indoor environment the outdoor scene and surrounding areas or natural settings are usually inhabited by good numbers of flying insects, particularly adult flies, namely blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae), each waiting for specific habitat in human environment to start a colony, as blooded or decomposing cadaver is located at the scene. That attracts surrounding flies and they find a suitable microhabitat in a short timeframe where eggs are laid. These eggs are then hatched and larval development begins after incubation and whose timeframe varies by species and ambient temperature at the scene. At this point, forensic investigation is to closely study and collect live samples that then fixed in standard preservatives. These samples become the forensic pivot for determining the time of death. However, it is often bypassed or missed of collecting necessary samples with proper labeling that include detailed description of the larval development. That must become a standard aspect of scene investigation and is closely linked to and becomes a part of forensic autopsy and likewise needs to be included in training for forensic investigation. This presentation includes some other basics including the intricacy of forensic entomology that could advance the core of forensic investigation.

Biography :

Email: kck@psu.edu