Insects in Criminal CasesInsects can be used in many ways. Insects of all kinds are used in Forensic Entomology. If the forensic scientists find out that the insects found in a food crate isn't from the United States, then they can investigate if that is an illegal food import. Scientists can look at the activity pattern of a species of insects to see if the insect is active day or night so that they can narrow down the time frame of when the crime took place. Insects come to dead bodies in different orders and for different reasons. Blowflies are first and they come to the body for the bodily fluids and gases. They arrive minutes after the death. The second group is made up of the maggots of the blowflies and they hatch after about 23 hours. After 14 days of growing, the now adult blowflies find another corpse. Flesh Flies are third and are looking for the flesh of the dead body. Beetles are fourth and they want the body fat. They arrive after about 24 hours after death to about 36 hours after the death. Spiders, millipedes, and mites arrive after 48 hours or two days. Forensic Experts can study an insect and determine where it is from. Once they have learned where the insect lived, then they can get a better idea of the crime. If the insect lives in another place from where the body was found, then they can investigate the other area to see what is there and if there was a part of the crime committed there.
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Get Familiar with the TopicsInsects are known to most people as a distraction from a nice summer's evening with friends. Scientists shine a different light on the beings. As you briefly learned on the previous page, insects are very useful in criminal investigations. Now you will learn in-depth what scientists do with the insects.
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How is Forensic Entomology used in Criminal Cases
Find out techniques and uses for insects to find out the details of a crime and to bring the wrong-doer to justice.