Entomology 101
What is entomology?
The scientific study of insects.
What type of fly is most often used to estimate time of death?
Blowfly
What does PMI stand for?
Postmortem interval
What net is used to catch flying insects?
Aerial net
True or False: Insects are cold-blooded
True
What scientist proved that maggots come from flies, not spontaneously from meat?
Francesco Redi
In which country was the first recorded case using entomology in a murder investigation?
China
Name the six stages of insect development commonly used in PMI
Egg → 1st instar → 2nd instar → 3rd instar → Pupa → Adult
What is a pitfall trap used to collect?
Ground-dwelling insects
Name one environmental factor that affects insect colonization
Temperature, humidity, or location (e.g., buried vs. exposed)
What is the full name for the type of entomology used in criminal cases?
Medicolegal entomology
What stage comes after the 2nd instar in insect development?
3rd instar
How does temperature affect insect development?
Warmer = faster development; colder = slower development
What is a passive method that uses light to attract bugs?
Light trap
What type of environment might delay insect colonization of a body?
Enclosed, buried, or underwater environments
Name the three main types of forensic entomology
Urban, stored product, and medicolegal
In what case was entomology used to investigate the trunk of a car?
Casey Anthony case
Why is insect evidence helpful in estimating time of death?
Because insects colonize bodies in predictable stages
What tool uses suction to collect fast-moving insects?
Aspirator
Why is expert identification important in forensic entomology?
Because misidentifying insects can lead to inaccurate PMI
Name one role of entomologists outside of forensics
Agriculture
Why was the fly evidence in the Casey Anthony case controversial?
The experiment used pig remains in a different climate and month than the actual case.
How can drugs or toxins in the body affect insect development?
They can speed up or slow down growth, altering PMI estimates
What are pinned specimens used for?
Preserving insects by drying and displaying them for study
Name one limitation or challenge in using insect evidence
Environmental interference, unpredictability, or needing lab analysis