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Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine

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Total 32 results found since Jan 2013.

A global perspective of forensic entomology case reports from 1935 to 2022
In this study, we retrospectively summarized information derived from 307 forensic entomology case reports from 1935 to 2022 from a global perspective. Our checklist of relevant information included insect species, specific indoor or outdoor preferences, preferred temperatures, and stages of body decomposition. Finally, a concept and calculation method for postmortem interval (PMI) estimation accuracy was proposed. There were 232 cases using insect developmental data and 28 cases using succession patterns to estimate PMI. A total of 146 species of insects were involved in the cases, of which 62.3% were Diptera and 37.7% we...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - July 6, 2023 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

It is all about the insects: a retrospective on 20  years of forensic entomology highlights the importance of insects in legal investigations
This study highlights the importance of insect evidence by evaluating 949 insect-associated cases, including 139 entomological reports, from 2001 to 2019 at the Institute of Legal Medicine Frankfurt/Germany. With a high number of cases in the summer months and a low number in the colder season, 78.5% of the bodies were found indoors, regardless of year or month. In more than 80% of the cases, where PMI information was available (n  = 704), the presumed PMI ranged from 1 to 21 days, a period during which entomological evidence can provide a day-specific estimate of PMImin. In cases where insects have been identified to...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - September 30, 2021 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

Forensic entomology in research and practice: an overview of forensic experts ’ perceptions and scientific output in Brazil
AbstractGiven the growing demands for standardization of procedures for collection, preservation, and identification of insect specimens, this study aimed to identify how forensic entomology is used in Brazil and the perceptions of professionals involved in this process. We conducted: (1) bibliometric survey of the scientific production of forensic specialists from 2001 to 2020; (2) questionnaire applied to forensic professionals to verify their perceptions about the use of entomological evidence in practice. An increase in publications on Forensic Entomology was noticed in the last 5  years, mainly in the South and North...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - May 8, 2022 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

Temperature: the weak point of forensic entomology
This article proposes tools for determining the adequacy of weather station temperature datasets versus the local temperature experienced by carrion breeders. The idea is to start from a local scale (i.e., the cadaver) and gradually move to larger scales: at each step, the temperature can be increased, decreased or smoothed by environmental or biological factors. While a one-size-fits-all solution is not feasible for a complex and sensitive issue such as forensic meteorology, this checklist increases the reliability of minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin) estimation and the traceability of the proposed assumption.
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - July 24, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

Review of Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Diptera: Muscidae) as a useful tool in forensic entomology
AbstractSynthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp, 1883) is a synanthropic muscid found in tropical and subtropical zones around the world. The larvae of this species are a secondary agent of myiasis with necrophagous habits and play an important role in forensic entomology, as they are used as an indicator of post-mortem interval. Adults can be considered vectors of etiological agents such asEscherichia coli andShigella dysenteriae. Due to its ability to adapt to different environmental conditions, its high dispersal capacity (shown by its introduction to Europe), its predatory habits in the last larval stage and the difficult...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - March 18, 2021 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

The analysis of pupal development period in Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) forensically important insect
In this study, the pupal period ofLucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826), which is one of the species used in PMImin estimation in forensic entomology, was investigated. Studies about the pupal period of development are considerably limited in the forensic entomology world. Stages and duration of the pupal period ofLucilia sericata were studied at temperatures of 20  °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C. For all temperatures, pupae specimens were dissected and photographed hourly. According to findings based on all three temperatures, it was determined that as the temperature increases, the duration of development shortens. Also, in additi...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - June 14, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

Description of immature stages of Thanatophilus sinuatus (Coleoptera: Silphidae)
AbstractNecrophagous beetles of genusThanatophilus are well recognized as a group of beetles with a high potential utility in forensic entomology. They can be used to estimate postmortem interval (PMI) or validate the value for other groups of insects commonly encountered on human remains, like blowflies (Calliphoridae). However, reliable tools for instar and species identification of their larvae are needed as such information is crucial for allowing accurate PMI estimate. One of the most common species of the genusThanatophilus in Europe isThanatophilus sinuatus. This species occurs frequently on human remains and its la...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - March 15, 2019 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

Development and validation of forensically useful growth models for Central European population of Creophilus maxillosus L. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)
AbstractThe hairy rove beetle,Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus) (Staphylinidae), is recognized for its use in forensic entomology. However, insufficient developmental data exist for the Central European population of this species. Accordingly, we studied the development ofC. maxillosus at ten constant temperatures (10 –32.5 °C). Based on these results, linear and nonlinear developmental models were created and validated. We also studied the effect of different homogenous diets (third-instar larvae or puparia ofCalliphora sp. Robineau-Desvoidy orLucilia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) or mix of first- and ...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - April 7, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

Temperature-dependent appearance of forensically useful flies on carcasses
Abstract Flies are frequently used for postmortem interval (PMI) estimations. These estimates are usually based on the age of larval or pupal specimens. However, the age defines only the minimum PMI. In order to move forensic entomology further, a method useful for the estimation of an interval preceding insect appearance on a corpse called the pre-appearance interval (PAI) is needed. Recently, it was demonstrated that the PAI of several carrion beetles is closely related to the temperature prevailing throughout this interval. Hence, it was postulated to estimate PAI from temperature. In order to check premises f...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - October 13, 2014 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

Involvement of larder beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on human cadavers: a review of 81 forensic cases
Abstract From 1994 to 2013, French forensic entomology laboratories investigated 1,093 cases. Larder beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) were observed in 81 (7.5 %) of these cases. To describe and analyze these 81 cases, eight parameters were used: city, location (indoor or outdoor), decay stage (fresh, decay, or dry), dermestid species and instar (adults and/or larvae), presence of living calliphorid larvae, presence of calliphorid pupae or adults, and presence of other necrophagous species. Eight Dermestidae species were observed: Dermestes frischii (42 % of cases), Dermestes undulatus (35.8 %), Dermestes peru...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - October 13, 2014 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

Diapause-specific gene expression in Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)—a useful diagnostic tool for forensic entomology
Abstract Estimating the post mortem interval (PMImin) by age determination of blow fly larvae has been well-established for moderate temperatures. Low-temperature developmental data is only available sparsely and usually does not take overwintering strategies into account. The blow fly Calliphora vicina hibernates by diapausing in the third larval stage extending the duration of this developmental stage up to several weeks or even months. As the diagnosis of the diapause status is not possible by morphological characteristics, PMImin estimations might be biased during the cold season if only based on age determin...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - October 13, 2014 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

The biology and ecology of Necrodes littoralis , a species of forensic interest in Europe
This study describes, for the first time, the involvement of N. littoralis on human corpses based on a large dataset of 154 French forensic cases. Various parameters regarding corpse location, decomposition stages, and entomofauna were extracted from each file. Compared to all of the forensic entomology cases analyzed between 1990 and 2013 (1028), N. littoralis was observed, on average, in one case out of eight; most of these cases occurred during spring and summer (73.5 %). More than 90 % of the cases were located outdoors, especially in woodlands, bushes, and fields. The decomposition stage of the corpse varied among c...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - September 1, 2015 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research

The distribution of blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larval lengths and its implications for estimating post mortem intervals
Abstract The length or stage of development of blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae may be used to estimate a minimum postmortem interval, often by targeting the largest individuals of a species in the belief that they will be the oldest. However, natural variation in rate of development, and therefore length, implies that the size of the largest larva, as well as the number of larvae longer than any stated length, will be greater for larger cohorts. Length data from the blow flies Protophormia terraenovae and Lucilia sericata were collected from one field-based and two laboratory-based experiments. The field ...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - November 16, 2015 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research