Importance of Entomofauna Found in Cadavers for Forensic Entomology

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Adam

This paper investigates the entomofauna found in cadavers within forensic entomology, focusing on how insect evidence supports medico-legal interpretation. It addresses how the entomofauna can provide identity-related information and assist with estimating the post-death interval, as well as clarifying cause of death and circumstances such as exposure to toxins or drugs and related crime-scene factors. A literature search covering 1993 to 2021 informs the mini review prepared in Goiânia, Goiás, during September–October 2021.

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Pages18

Reading Time6 min

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Introduction

Forensic Entomology Beyond Criminal Investigation

The first application of Forensic Entomology

Importance of entomofauna found in cadavers for Forensic Entomology Carlos Henrique Marchiori * Instituto Federal Goiano, Biological Science Parasitology, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Open Access Research Journal of Science and Technology, 2021, 03(01), 019–036 Publication history: Received on 11 October 2021; revised on 18 November 2021; accepted on 20 November 2021 Article DOI: [https://doi.org/10.53022/oarjst.2021.3.1.0065](https://doi.org/10.53022/oarjst.2021.3.1.0065) Abstract The purpose of this paper is to investigate the entomofauna found in cadavers for Forensic Entomology in the following aspects (a) Forensic Entomology in addition to criminal investigation, Medico-Legal Entomology, the entomofauna found in the corpse can provide (b) the identity of the deceased, cause of death, movement body, use of toxins or drugs, in addition to the crime scene, stored products, drug trafficking, ill-treatment, but how Entomology can help to reach the after-death interval. A literature search was carried out containing articles published from 1993 to 2021. The mini review was prepared in Goiânia, Goiás, from September to October 2021, through the. The mini-review was prepared in Goiânia, Goiás, from September to October 2021, through the Online Scientific Library (Scielo), internet, ResearchGate, [Academia.edu](Academia.edu), Frontiers, Publons, Qeios, Portal of Scientific Journals in Health Sciences, Pubmed, Online Scientific Library (Scielo), internet, ResearchGate, [Academia.edu](Academia.edu), Frontiers, Biological Abstract, Publons, Qeios, Portal of Scientific Journals in Health Sciences, and Pubmed, Dialnet, World, Wide Science, Springer, RefSeek, Microsoft Academic, Science, ERIC, Science [Research.com](Research.com), SEEK education, Periódicos CAPES, Google Academic, Bioline International, VADLO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Keywords: Criminal investigation; Medico-Legal Entomology; Entomofauna; After-death interval (IPM) 1. Introduction Forensic Entomology is a branch of biology that can be defined as the application of the study of insects and other arthropods, in association with expert procedures. (Source: [https://higheducationhere.com/forensic-entomology/](https://higheducationhere.com/forensic-entomology/)) Figure 1 Forensic Entomologist: Job Description, Duties and Requirements; Its purpose is to discover information relevant to a criminal investigation. This science is gaining importance and, when properly applied, becomes an important part of police investigations (Figure 1) [1,2,3,4,5] . The first documented case of forensic entomology is reported in a 13th century Chinese Forensic Medicine textbook. It was a murder case in which a farmer was found beheaded by a scythe. To resolve the case, all farmers in the region were forced to lay their scythes on the ground, in the open air. The flies landed on just one of them, attracted by the remnants of blood that still clung to the blade. The conclusion was that this was the killer's scythe. However, this science became known worldwide after 1894, with the publication in France of Mégnin's book “La Faune des cadavers”. Where the author includes theoretical foundation, descriptions of insects and reports of real cases studied by him and collaborators (Figures 2 and 3) [1,2,3,4, 5,6] . Figure 2 It's Forensic Entomology at The Body Farm; (Source: [https://www.sciencefriday.com/educational](https://www.sciencefriday.com/educational) resources/forensic-entomology-body-farm/) Figure 3 Flies on a porcupine corpse; (Source: Paul venter, via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0) However, in Brazil, entomology gained prominence in 1908, with the pioneering works of Edgard Roquette Pinto and Oscar Freire. In the States of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia, respectively. Based on case studies in humans and animals carried out in the first decade of the 20th century, these authors recorded the diversity of the necrophagous insect fauna in regions of the Atlantic Forest

FAQs

What does forensic entomology use entomofauna on cadavers for?

Forensic entomology uses the study of insects and other arthropods, with expert procedures, to obtain information relevant to criminal investigations, including medico-legal interpretations from corpse-associated entomofauna.

Which types of medico-legal questions can entomofauna help address?

Entomofauna can help with identifying the deceased and providing indications related to cause of death, movement body, exposure to toxins or drugs, and aspects connected to the crime scene and other forensic contexts.

How is the post-death interval (IPM) connected to entomology?

The paper highlights that entomology can help reach the after-death interval, using evidence from insects found on cadavers to support estimation.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Adam

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