FREE online courses on the Basics to Forensic Entomology - Analyzing the crime scene - In the laboratory

 

All samples, both live and dead specimens should now be processed as fast as possible. Live specimens are placed in incubators with known temperature and humidity levels. Several times each day these containers should be watched, and changes such as hatching of eggs or larvae, pupariation or eclosion of adult insect should be noted. The exact time should be noted. Pictures could be taken to illustrate to a jury or others. Each kind of larvae and adult should be determined to genus and species if possible. This may require the assistance of an expert of the taxon in question. It may be necessary to do experiments outdoors near the crime scene to recreate the environmental conditions for the larvae to estimate PMI.