The Common Blow Fly
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| Forensic Entomology is the study of insects and their relation to a Criminal Investigation. This practice is used to estimate the time of death when circumstances surrounding the crime are unknown. After decomposition begins, insects such as Blow Flies are the first to infest the body. They lay their eggs within the human remains and hatch into maggots or fly larvae. The ForensicEntomologist identifies the specific insects present in the body and can tellhow long a body has been left exposed by examining the stage development of thefly larvae. Studying insects can also help determine the circumstances ofrape and abuse. Victims that have been incapacitated often have urine orfecal soaked clothes or bed sheets. These things can attract certainspecies of flies that otherwise would not be recovered. Insects can alsobe effective when trying to interpret blood spatter patterns. Roaches walkthrough pooled and splattered blood and produce tracking that may not berecognizable to the untrained observer. Flies and fleas also leave tracks,but flies will also feed on the blood and then pass the partially digested bloodinto its feces. Environmental influences, such as climate and weatherconditions affect the time required by stage development. The ForensicEntomologist must take these things into consideration when estimatingpostmortem intervals.
The Common Blow Fly
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