Current Concepts in Forensic Entomology (eBook)

Preface 5
Contents 7
Chapter 1 9
Early Postmortem Changes and Stages of Decomposition 9
1.1 Introduction 9
1.2 Early Postmortem Changes 11
1.2.1 Livor Mortis 11
1.2.2 Rigor Mortis 12
1.2.3 Algor Mortis 13
1.2.4 Tache Noir 14
1.2.5 Greenish Discoloration 14
1.2.6 Marbling 14
1.2.7 Skin Slippage 15
1.2.8 Mummification 16
1.2.9 Saponification 16
1.2.10 Putrefaction 16
1.3 Decomposers 17
1.3.1 Bacteria 17
1.3.2 Fungi/Molds 18
1.3.3 Insects 18
1.3.4 Vertebrate Scavengers 18
1.4 Factors Delaying Decomposition 18
1.4.1 Physical Barriers 18
1.4.2 Chemical Barriers 19
1.4.3 Climatic Factors 19
1.5 Relationships of Insects to a Body 19
1.5.1 Necrophagous Species 20
1.5.2 Predators and Parasites of Necrophagous Species 21
1.5.3 Omnivorous Species 21
1.5.4 Adventive Species 23
1.5.5 Accidentals 23
1.6 Stages of Decomposition 23
1.6.1 Numbers of Stages 23
1.6.2 Fresh Stage 24
1.6.3 Bloated Stage 25
1.6.4 Decay Stage 25
1.6.5 Postdecay Stage 26
1.6.6 Skeletal/Remains Stage 27
1.7 Protocol for Decomposition Studies 29
1.7.1 Animal Model 29
1.7.2 Arrangement of the Animals at the Site 29
1.7.3 Climatic Data 30
1.7.4 Sampling 30
1.7.5 Identifications 31
Chapter 2 33
Keys for Identification of Immature Insects 33
2.1 Introduction 33
2.2 Anatomical Features of Dipteran Immature Stages 33
2.2.1 Egg Morphology 34
2.2.2 Larval Morphology 34
2.2.3 Puparium Morphology 36
2.3 Taxonomic Keys 36
2.3.1 Key to Larvae and/or Nymphs of Hexapod Orders 36
2.3.2 Key to larvae of major Diptera families 39
2.3.3 Key to Third Instar Larvae of the Most Carrion Breeding and Feeding Dipteran Species from Brazil 47
2.3.3.1 Nomenclature according to Fig. 2.3 47
Chapter 3 51
Key for the Identification of Third Instars of European Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of Forensic Importance 51
3.1 Introduction 51
3.2 Material and Methods 53
3.3 General Morphology 54
3.4 Key 59
Chapter 4 65
The Utility of Coleoptera in Forensic Investigations 65
4.1 Introduction 65
4.2 Forensic Applications of Coleoptera 66
4.2.1 Developmental Biology 66
4.2.2 Community Ecology 68
4.2.3 Toxicology 68
4.3 Existing Data with Forensic Relevance 68
4.3.1 Taxonomy 68
4.3.2 Biology 70
4.4 Future Research 71
Chapter 5 77
Phoretic Mites and Carcasses: Acari Transported by Organisms Associated with Animal and Human Decomposition 77
5.1 Introduction 77
5.2 Historic Roots and Importance of Mites 78
5.3 Phoresy 82
5.4 Phoretic Adaptations 85
5.5 Specificity of Phoretic and Carrier 88
5.6 Hyperphoresy 89
5.7 Phoretic Mites Separated by Carrier and Time 90
5.8 Phoretic Mites Separated Spatially 92
5.9 Ongoing Research 93
Chapter 6 100
Indoor Arthropods of Forensic Importance: Insects Associated with Indoor Decomposition and Mites as Indoor Markers 100
6.1 Introduction 100
6.2 Indoor Decomposition 101
6.3 House and Dust Mites 105
6.3.1 Kitchen 107
6.3.2 Pantries 108
6.3.3 Bedroom 108
6.3.4 Living Room 110
6.3.5 Bathroom 110
6.3.6 Indoor Pools 110
6.3.7 Store Room, Attic, Basement 110
6.3.8 Study, Office 111
6.3.9 Pet’s Room 111
6.3.10 Conservatory, Plant Room 112
6.3.11 Mites as High Resolution Markers 112
Chapter 7 116
Contemporary Precision, Bias and Accuracy of Minimum Post-Mortem Intervals Estimated Using Development of Carrion-Feeding Inse 116
7.1 Introduction 116
7.2 Precision, Bias and Accuracy 117
7.3 Sources of Inaccuracy 119
7.3.1 Promptness of Colonisation 119
7.3.2 Precocious Development 121
7.3.3 Measuring Developmental Maturity 123
7.3.4 Maggot-Generated Heat 124
7.3.5 Diet 127
7.3.6 Drugs 128
7.3.7 Interspecific Competition 129
7.3.8 Chilling and Diapause 130
7.3.9 The Wandering Phase 131
7.3.10 Circadian Rhythms 132
7.3.11 Modelling 133
7.4 Discussion 135
Chapter 8 145
Analysing Forensic Entomology Data Using Additive Mixed Effects Modelling 145
8.1 Introduction 145
8.2 Data Introduction 146
8.2.1 Data Structure and Coding 146
8.2.2 Working Towards a Model 146
8.3 Data Exploration 148
8.4 Fine Tuning the Model Using Data Exploration Results 151
8.4.1 Where to Start? 153
8.5 Linear Regression as a Starting Point 154
8.6 Generalised Additive Modelling 155
8.6.1 Model Validation of the GAM 157
8.7 Generalised Additive Mixed Modelling 158
8.7.1 Bootstrapping 163
8.8 Inverse Modelling 164
8.9 Discussion 167
Chapter 9 169
Toxicology and Forensic Entomology 169
9.1 Introduction 169
9.2 Detection of Substances on Insects 170
9.3 Toxicological Analyses of Entomological Specimens and a Protocol for Collecting and Preserving Arthropods 174
9.4 Drug Effects over Arthropod Development 176
Chapter 10 185
Cuticular Hydrocarbons: A New Tool in Forensic Entomology? 185
10.1 Introduction 185
10.2 Hydrocarbon Structure 186
10.3 Collecting Hydrocarbons 187
10.3.1 Liquid Extraction 188
10.3.2 Solid Phase Micro Extraction 188
10.4 Chemical Analysis of Hydrocarbons 189
10.5 Production and Physiological Role of Cuticular Hydrocarbons 194
10.5.1 Alkanes 196
10.5.2 Alkenes 197
10.5.3 Alkadienes and Alkatrienes 197
10.5.4 Methyl-Branched Alkanes 198
10.5.5 Methyl-Branched Alkenes 198
10.6 Do Hydrocarbon Profiles Change? 199
10.7 Weathering of Hydrocarbons 200
10.8 How Important Are Hydrocarbons in the Area of Forensic Entomology? 201
10.9 Conclusion and Final Remarks 203
Chapter 11 210
Exploiting Insect Olfaction in Forensic Entomology 210
11.1 Introduction 210
11.2 Insect Olfaction and Decomposition 211
11.2.1 Insect Olfaction 211
11.2.2 Semiochemicals 212
11.2.3 The Decomposition Process 214
11.2.4 Carrion Insects and Semiochemicals 215
11.3 Chemical Ecology Research 217
11.3.1 Decomposing Body Odour Mimicry 221
11.4 Future Prospects 221
11.4.1 Time of Death 221
11.4.2 Body Recovery 222
11.4.3 Pest-Control 222
Chapter 12 227
Decomposition and Invertebrate Colonization of Cadavers in Coastal Marine Environments 227
12.1 Introduction 227
12.2 Decomposition and Invertebrate Colonization of Carrion in a Shallow, Coastal Marine Environment 229
12.2.1 Material and Methods 229
12.2.2 Decomposition 229
12.2.3 Faunal Colonization 234
12.2.4 Discussion 240
12.3 Decomposition and Invertebrate Colonization of Carrion in a Deep Coastal Marine Environment 241
12.3.1 First Deployment, 2006 243
12.3.2 Second Deployment, 2007 250
12.3.3 Third Deployment, 2008 262
12.3.4 Discussion 264
12.4 Conclusions 272
Chapter 13 277
The Insects Colonisation of Buried Remains 277
13.1 Introduction 277
13.2 Burial and Exhumation 278
13.2.1 Burying: Why, Who, When, How? 278
13.2.2 Exhumation: Why, Who, When, How? 279
13.2.2.1 Coffin 279
13.2.2.2 Illegal Graves and Mass Graves 280
13.3 Buried Cadaver: Decomposition Process in Soil 281
13.3.1 Decomposition Process 281
13.3.2 Factors Affecting Decomposition Process in Soil 282
13.3.2.1 Temperature 283
13.3.2.2 Depth 284
13.3.2.3 Soil Composition 284
13.3.2.4 Oxygen Content 285
13.3.2.5 Moisture 286
13.3.2.6 pH 286
13.3.2.7 Microbial Degradation 286
13.3.2.8 Fauna 287
13.4 Forensic Excavation Technique 287
13.4.1 Location Techniques 288
13.4.1.1 Non-intrusive Ground Search Methods 288
13.4.1.1.1 Testimonies 288
13.4.1.1.2 Basic Observation 288
13.4.1.1.3 Foot Search 289
13.4.1.1.4 Cadaver Dogs 289
13.4.1.1.5 Aerial Observation/Photography 289
13.4.1.2 Intrusive Ground Search Methods 290
13.4.1.2.1 Passive Geophysical Prospecting Methods 290
13.4.1.2.2 Soil Stratigraphy 290
13.4.1.2.3 Detection of Cadaver Scent 291
13.4.1.2.4 Magnetic Surveying 291
13.4.1.3 Active Geophysical Prospecting Methods 291
13.4.1.3.1 Geophysical Resistivity 291
13.4.1.3.2 The Ground Penetrating Radar or GPR 291
13.4.1.3.3 Metal Detector 292
13.4.1.3.4 Remote Sensing 292
13.4.2 On the Scale of the Forensic Entomologist 292
13.4.3 Recovery 293
13.5 Actual Knowledge of Necrophagous Entomofauna on Buried Remians 294
13.5.1 Necrophagous Insects Found in the Surroundings of Buried Bodies 295
13.5.2 Insects Found in Coffins 296
13.5.3 Insects Found in Caves 297
13.5.4 Necrophagous Insects of Forensic Importance 297
13.5.4.1 Dipterans Found on Buried Corpses 301
13.5.4.1.1 Calliphoridae 301
13.5.4.1.2 Fannidae 301
13.5.4.1.3 Heleomyzidae 301
13.5.4.1.4 Muscidae 302
13.5.4.1.5 Phoridae 302
13.5.4.1.6 Piophilidae 303
13.5.4.1.7 Stratiomyidae 303
13.5.4.2 Coleopterans Found on Buried Corpses: Staphylinidae and Rhizophagidae 303
13.5.5 Staphylinidae and Rhizophagidae 304
13.5.6 Silphidae 304
13.5.7 Histeridae 304
13.5.7.1 Hymenopterans Found on Buried Corpses: Ants and Parasitic Wasps 305
13.5.7.2 Other Insects Found on Buried Corpses: Collembola (Spring Tails) 305
13.5.7.3 Other Arthropods Found on Buried Corpses: Acari (Mites) 305
13.6 Post Mortem Interval Estimation 306
13.6.1 Temperature 306
13.6.2 Insects 306
13.6.2.1 Calliphoridae 306
13.6.2.2 Muscidae 307
13.6.2.3 Phoridae 307
13.6.2.4 Stratiomyidae 308
13.6.2.5 Coleoptera 308
13.6.2.6 Hymenoptera 308
13.7 Conclusion 309
Chapter 14 316
Forensic Implications of Myiasis 316
14.1 Introduction 316
14.2 Case Studies 318
14.2.1 Case # 1. Increased Postmortem Interval/Period of Neglect 318
14.2.2 Case # 2. Possible Sexual Assault 318
14.2.3 Case # 3. Period of Neglect 319
14.2.4 Case # 4. Period of Neglect 321
14.2.5 Case # 5. Geographic Movement 324
14.3 Discussion 326
Chapter 15 329
Climate Change and Forensic Entomology 329
15.1 Introduction 329
15.2 Causes and Evidence of Global Warming 329
15.2.1 Great Buffer Systems of the Earth: Atmospheric “Greenhouse Effect”, Oceans and Ocean Currents 331
15.2.2 Evidence of Global Warming During the Last Hundred Years 334
15.2.2.1 Climate Changes 334
15.2.2.2 Ocean Warming: Effects on Coastal Environments 335
15.2.2.3 Polar Ice Melting 336
15.2.2.4 Altitudinal Changes 338
15.3 Ecological Responses to Climate Changes 339
15.3.1 Natural Shift and Strategies of Insects in Rising Temperatures 339
15.3.2 Prey–Predator Relationships 340
15.4 Globalization and Human Interferences on Animal Distribution 341
15.4.1 Human Health and Global Warming 342
15.5 Insects of Forensic Interest: Evidence of Latitudinal and Altitudinal Shift Because the Warming Climate Changes 343
15.6 Discussion on the Validity of Traditional Methods to Calculate by Means of Insects 348
Chapter 16 354
Future Trends in Forensic Entomology 354
16.1 Introduction 354
16.2 Research 354
16.2.1 Insect Succession 354
16.2.2 Aquatic Entomology 355
16.2.3 Identification, Phylogenetics, and Population Genetics 356
16.2.4 Maggot Gut Content Studies 358
16.2.5 Weather and Temperature Collection 359
16.2.6 Parasitoids and PMI 360
16.2.7 Multivariate Approaches 360
16.2.8 Wildlife and Veterinary Forensic Entomology 361
16.3 Quality Assurance 361
16.3.1 Standardization of Methods 361
16.3.2 Central Repository 362
16.3.3 Specialized Professional Societies 363
16.3.4 Development of Full-Service 363
16.3.5 Public Relations 364
Index 370