ABFM Forensic Entomology & Decomposition Flashcards

In a forensic case where a body is found indoors with no insect activity, what may the absence of insects suggest?

Answer: Death occurred in a sealed or inaccessible environment

Absence of insect activity indoors often indicates the remains were in a sealed environment that prevented fly access during early postmortem.

When collecting entomological evidence from a crime scene, what is the correct preservation method for live larvae?

Answer: Keep larvae alive in a rearing container with food

Live larvae should be preserved in rearing containers to allow developmental stage documentation, while a portion should also be killed and fixed for record.

Which factor can cause an investigator to underestimate the PMI when using entomological evidence?

Answer: Body wrapped or covered, delaying insect access

If the body was wrapped, buried, or covered, insect colonization is delayed, causing the entomological PMI to underestimate true time of death.

What is the role of a forensic entomologist in a criminal investigation?

Answer: Estimate PMI and potentially determine if the body was moved

Forensic entomologists use insect evidence to estimate the postmortem interval and can detect scene inconsistencies suggesting the body was relocated.

Toxicological compounds found in insect larvae from a decomposed body are useful because they can help to do what?

Answer: Detect drugs or poisons the victim ingested before death

Insect larvae absorb drugs and toxins from decomposing tissue, allowing toxicological analysis even when body fluids are no longer available.

Which of the following entomological findings could indicate that a body was moved after death?

Answer: Insect species present that are not native to the discovery location

Non-native insect species at the discovery site suggest the body was colonized elsewhere and then transported, indicating the scene is not the primary death location.