Forensic Entomology Notes questions with verified
answers
1st instar larva: Ans✓✓✓ 5mm long after 1.8 days
2nd instar larva: Ans✓✓✓ 10mm long after 2.5 days
3rd instar larva: Ans✓✓✓ 14-16mm long after 4-5 days
Approximately how long does it take for eggs to turn into adults?
Ans✓✓✓ 14-16 days, depending on the temperatures and humidity
levels at the location of the body
Blow fly life cycle picture: Ans✓✓✓ -Eggs
-1st Instar Larva
-2nd Instar Larva
-3rd Instar Larva
-Pupa
-Adult
Collection... Ans✓✓✓ and preservation of insects as evidence
Determining... Ans✓✓✓ an estimate for the postmortem interval (PMI)
using different factors
, Does ADH change or is it constant? Ans✓✓✓ It is constant (does not
change) for each species and life cycle stage
Early stage decomposition beetle: Ans✓✓✓ 1. Carrion Beetles (adults
and larvae feed on fly larvae)
Early stage decomposition flies: Ans✓✓✓ 1. Blow and Greenbottle flies
(metallic thorax and abdomen)
2. Flesh Fly (striped thorax)
Early to late stage decomposition beetles: Ans✓✓✓ 1. Rove Beetles
(predator of fly eggs)
2. Clown Beetles (predator of fly eggs)
Example of ADH: Ans✓✓✓ If a stage takes 12 hours at 70 degrees, the
the ADH (12x70) = 840 degree-hour
Factors that might affect PMI estimates: Ans✓✓✓ -Was the body
enclosed in an area or wrapped in a material that would have
prevented flies from finding the corpse and laying eggs on it?
-Were other insect species present that may have affected the
development of the collected species?
-Were there other drugs or poisons in/on the body that might have
affected the larvae's development?
answers
1st instar larva: Ans✓✓✓ 5mm long after 1.8 days
2nd instar larva: Ans✓✓✓ 10mm long after 2.5 days
3rd instar larva: Ans✓✓✓ 14-16mm long after 4-5 days
Approximately how long does it take for eggs to turn into adults?
Ans✓✓✓ 14-16 days, depending on the temperatures and humidity
levels at the location of the body
Blow fly life cycle picture: Ans✓✓✓ -Eggs
-1st Instar Larva
-2nd Instar Larva
-3rd Instar Larva
-Pupa
-Adult
Collection... Ans✓✓✓ and preservation of insects as evidence
Determining... Ans✓✓✓ an estimate for the postmortem interval (PMI)
using different factors
, Does ADH change or is it constant? Ans✓✓✓ It is constant (does not
change) for each species and life cycle stage
Early stage decomposition beetle: Ans✓✓✓ 1. Carrion Beetles (adults
and larvae feed on fly larvae)
Early stage decomposition flies: Ans✓✓✓ 1. Blow and Greenbottle flies
(metallic thorax and abdomen)
2. Flesh Fly (striped thorax)
Early to late stage decomposition beetles: Ans✓✓✓ 1. Rove Beetles
(predator of fly eggs)
2. Clown Beetles (predator of fly eggs)
Example of ADH: Ans✓✓✓ If a stage takes 12 hours at 70 degrees, the
the ADH (12x70) = 840 degree-hour
Factors that might affect PMI estimates: Ans✓✓✓ -Was the body
enclosed in an area or wrapped in a material that would have
prevented flies from finding the corpse and laying eggs on it?
-Were other insect species present that may have affected the
development of the collected species?
-Were there other drugs or poisons in/on the body that might have
affected the larvae's development?
