Do you know how insects are helping to solve crimes? Take this quiz to test your...

Using Insects to Solve Crimes: The Role of Forensic Entomology

• Insects can be the only witnesses to a crime, and forensic investigators often rely on them to solve cases.

• In Hawaii, investigators used insects found on a body to determine the time of death of a murder victim. Entomologist Dr. Lee Goff collected and studied the insects to establish when the victim was killed, providing crucial evidence for the prosecution's case.

• Goff used maggots, which develop on a dead body soon after death, to determine when the victim was killed. By studying the life cycle of the maggots, he was able to estimate the time of death to within a few days.

• The insects can also provide information about the location of the body and the cause of death. In the Hawaii case, bloodstains found in the victim's house matched her blood type, providing further evidence for the prosecution's case.

• In Tennessee, investigators used a wasp nest found on a skull to determine the time of death of a young female victim. Forensic anthropologist William Bass used the wasp nest to estimate when the skull had dried out, providing a minimum time since death.

• Forensic entomologist Neal Haskell was able to confirm the minimum time since death by studying the life cycle of the wasps that built the nest.

• Insects can also be used to identify victims. Bass was able to determine the age and sex of the victim from the shape and size of the bones.

• Insects can be affected by environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, which can impact their life cycle. Investigators must take these factors into account when estimating the time of death.

• Entomologists use a variety of techniques to collect insects from a crime scene, including nets and tweezers. They also examine soil and other surfaces around the body for insects.

• Insects can provide valuable evidence in cases where other clues are lacking. In both the Hawaii and Tennessee cases, insects provided crucial evidence that helped to solve the crimes.

• Forensic entomology is a growing field, and researchers are constantly developing new techniques and methods for using insects to solve crimes.

• Despite their importance in forensic investigations, insects are not infallible. Investigators must use multiple sources of evidence to build a strong case, and take into account the limitations of insect evidence.The Role of Insects in Death Investigations

• Insects can provide crucial information in death investigations, such as the estimated time of death and identification of the deceased.

• Forensic entomology has been around since the 13th century in China, but it has only been widely used in the United States since the 1950s.

• The field of forensic entomology is not widely studied, and there are only a few dozen insect specialists in the United States who regularly assist with murder cases.

• Insects, such as flies and beetles, are attracted to decomposing remains and lay their eggs on them, resulting in maggots that can be used to estimate the time of death.

• The behavior and growth rate of maggots can provide investigators with a good idea of how long a body has been left in the open.

• In 1987, the skeletal remains of a 15-year-old girl named Michelle Denise Anderson were discovered, and insects helped investigators estimate that she had died at least a year and a half prior.

• Insects can also act as filters and be tested for chemicals and drugs they may have picked up from their host.

• In a case in an Indianapolis suburb, the mummified remains of two women were found in a house filled with trash. Insects, such as beetles, provided clues about the time of death.

• Forensic entomologist Neal Haskell identified the particular insect species that colonized each woman's remains and theorized that the older woman died first in October 1977, while the younger woman likely died in late December 1977 or early January 1978.

• The man who lived in the house with the women for 10 years after their deaths was never charged, and their deaths were recorded as due to natural causes.

• Insects can be vocal witnesses to the circumstances of a person's death, and their behavior can provide crucial information for investigators.

• Despite the cultural prejudice against insects, studying them can provide valuable information for forensic investigations, and anyone who takes the time to learn about insects' behaviors can become interested in them.The Power of Bugs in Forensic Investigations

• Social Security money was partially paid back by the sale of property that bugs helped detectives solve in the Curious Case of the Indianapolis mummies.

• Insect specialists like Neal Haskell are using bugs as powerful allies in criminal cases, especially as technology becomes more sophisticated.

• Bugs, such as mosquitoes, bedbugs, fleas, and lice, are being used to analyze human DNA found in blood meals for forensic investigations.

• The study of insects is still a field with much to learn, especially in investigating death, according to entomologist Lee Gogh.

• Forensic entomology needs to be put on a firmer statistical basis and more modeling is necessary.

• As more scientists enter the field and learn about insect behavior, the value of forensic entomology will continue to grow.

• Law enforcement agencies were initially skeptical of forensic entomology, but it has become a widely accepted and powerful tool for investigations.

• Bugs are the smallest witnesses to murder and their contributions are invaluable to homicide investigators.

• The study of insects is the study of the great tenacity and variety of life.

• Bugs are becoming increasingly important in criminal cases as technology advances.

• Bugs, such as mosquitoes, can be used to analyze human DNA found in blood meals.

• The simplest methods, such as using bugs for forensic investigations, are sometimes the best and most dependable.

Using Insects to Solve Crimes: The Role of Forensic Entomology

• Insects can be the only witnesses to a crime, and forensic investigators often rely on them to solve cases.

• In Hawaii, investigators used insects found on a body to determine the time of death of a murder victim. Entomologist Dr. Lee Goff collected and studied the insects to establish when the victim was killed, providing crucial evidence for the prosecution's case.

• Goff used maggots, which develop on a dead body soon after death, to determine when the victim was killed. By studying the life cycle of the maggots, he was able to estimate the time of death to within a few days.

• The insects can also provide information about the location of the body and the cause of death. In the Hawaii case, bloodstains found in the victim's house matched her blood type, providing further evidence for the prosecution's case.

• In Tennessee, investigators used a wasp nest found on a skull to determine the time of death of a young female victim. Forensic anthropologist William Bass used the wasp nest to estimate when the skull had dried out, providing a minimum time since death.

• Forensic entomologist Neal Haskell was able to confirm the minimum time since death by studying the life cycle of the wasps that built the nest.

• Insects can also be used to identify victims. Bass was able to determine the age and sex of the victim from the shape and size of the bones.

• Insects can be affected by environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, which can impact their life cycle. Investigators must take these factors into account when estimating the time of death.

• Entomologists use a variety of techniques to collect insects from a crime scene, including nets and tweezers. They also examine soil and other surfaces around the body for insects.

• Insects can provide valuable evidence in cases where other clues are lacking. In both the Hawaii and Tennessee cases, insects provided crucial evidence that helped to solve the crimes.

• Forensic entomology is a growing field, and researchers are constantly developing new techniques and methods for using insects to solve crimes.

• Despite their importance in forensic investigations, insects are not infallible. Investigators must use multiple sources of evidence to build a strong case, and take into account the limitations of insect evidence.The Role of Insects in Death Investigations

• Insects can provide crucial information in death investigations, such as the estimated time of death and identification of the deceased.

• Forensic entomology has been around since the 13th century in China, but it has only been widely used in the United States since the 1950s.

• The field of forensic entomology is not widely studied, and there are only a few dozen insect specialists in the United States who regularly assist with murder cases.

• Insects, such as flies and beetles, are attracted to decomposing remains and lay their eggs on them, resulting in maggots that can be used to estimate the time of death.

• The behavior and growth rate of maggots can provide investigators with a good idea of how long a body has been left in the open.

• In 1987, the skeletal remains of a 15-year-old girl named Michelle Denise Anderson were discovered, and insects helped investigators estimate that she had died at least a year and a half prior.

• Insects can also act as filters and be tested for chemicals and drugs they may have picked up from their host.

• In a case in an Indianapolis suburb, the mummified remains of two women were found in a house filled with trash. Insects, such as beetles, provided clues about the time of death.

• Forensic entomologist Neal Haskell identified the particular insect species that colonized each woman's remains and theorized that the older woman died first in October 1977, while the younger woman likely died in late December 1977 or early January 1978.

• The man who lived in the house with the women for 10 years after their deaths was never charged, and their deaths were recorded as due to natural causes.

• Insects can be vocal witnesses to the circumstances of a person's death, and their behavior can provide crucial information for investigators.

• Despite the cultural prejudice against insects, studying them can provide valuable information for forensic investigations, and anyone who takes the time to learn about insects' behaviors can become interested in them.The Power of Bugs in Forensic Investigations

• Social Security money was partially paid back by the sale of property that bugs helped detectives solve in the Curious Case of the Indianapolis mummies.

• Insect specialists like Neal Haskell are using bugs as powerful allies in criminal cases, especially as technology becomes more sophisticated.

• Bugs, such as mosquitoes, bedbugs, fleas, and lice, are being used to analyze human DNA found in blood meals for forensic investigations.

• The study of insects is still a field with much to learn, especially in investigating death, according to entomologist Lee Gogh.

• Forensic entomology needs to be put on a firmer statistical basis and more modeling is necessary.

• As more scientists enter the field and learn about insect behavior, the value of forensic entomology will continue to grow.

• Law enforcement agencies were initially skeptical of forensic entomology, but it has become a widely accepted and powerful tool for investigations.

• Bugs are the smallest witnesses to murder and their contributions are invaluable to homicide investigators.

• The study of insects is the study of the great tenacity and variety of life.

• Bugs are becoming increasingly important in criminal cases as technology advances.

• Bugs, such as mosquitoes, can be used to analyze human DNA found in blood meals.

• The simplest methods, such as using bugs for forensic investigations, are sometimes the best and most dependable.

Using Insects to Solve Crimes: The Role of Forensic Entomology

• Insects can be the only witnesses to a crime, and forensic investigators often rely on them to solve cases.

• In Hawaii, investigators used insects found on a body to determine the time of death of a murder victim. Entomologist Dr. Lee Goff collected and studied the insects to establish when the victim was killed, providing crucial evidence for the prosecution's case.

• Goff used maggots, which develop on a dead body soon after death, to determine when the victim was killed. By studying the life cycle of the maggots, he was able to estimate the time of death to within a few days.

• The insects can also provide information about the location of the body and the cause of death. In the Hawaii case, bloodstains found in the victim's house matched her blood type, providing further evidence for the prosecution's case.

• In Tennessee, investigators used a wasp nest found on a skull to determine the time of death of a young female victim. Forensic anthropologist William Bass used the wasp nest to estimate when the skull had dried out, providing a minimum time since death.

• Forensic entomologist Neal Haskell was able to confirm the minimum time since death by studying the life cycle of the wasps that built the nest.

• Insects can also be used to identify victims. Bass was able to determine the age and sex of the victim from the shape and size of the bones.

• Insects can be affected by environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, which can impact their life cycle. Investigators must take these factors into account when estimating the time of death.

• Entomologists use a variety of techniques to collect insects from a crime scene, including nets and tweezers. They also examine soil and other surfaces around the body for insects.

• Insects can provide valuable evidence in cases where other clues are lacking. In both the Hawaii and Tennessee cases, insects provided crucial evidence that helped to solve the crimes.

• Forensic entomology is a growing field, and researchers are constantly developing new techniques and methods for using insects to solve crimes.

• Despite their importance in forensic investigations, insects are not infallible. Investigators must use multiple sources of evidence to build a strong case, and take into account the limitations of insect evidence.The Role of Insects in Death Investigations

• Insects can provide crucial information in death investigations, such as the estimated time of death and identification of the deceased.

• Forensic entomology has been around since the 13th century in China, but it has only been widely used in the United States since the 1950s.

• The field of forensic entomology is not widely studied, and there are only a few dozen insect specialists in the United States who regularly assist with murder cases.

• Insects, such as flies and beetles, are attracted to decomposing remains and lay their eggs on them, resulting in maggots that can be used to estimate the time of death.

• The behavior and growth rate of maggots can provide investigators with a good idea of how long a body has been left in the open.

• In 1987, the skeletal remains of a 15-year-old girl named Michelle Denise Anderson were discovered, and insects helped investigators estimate that she had died at least a year and a half prior.

• Insects can also act as filters and be tested for chemicals and drugs they may have picked up from their host.

• In a case in an Indianapolis suburb, the mummified remains of two women were found in a house filled with trash. Insects, such as beetles, provided clues about the time of death.

• Forensic entomologist Neal Haskell identified the particular insect species that colonized each woman's remains and theorized that the older woman died first in October 1977, while the younger woman likely died in late December 1977 or early January 1978.

• The man who lived in the house with the women for 10 years after their deaths was never charged, and their deaths were recorded as due to natural causes.

• Insects can be vocal witnesses to the circumstances of a person's death, and their behavior can provide crucial information for investigators.

• Despite the cultural prejudice against insects, studying them can provide valuable information for forensic investigations, and anyone who takes the time to learn about insects' behaviors can become interested in them.The Power of Bugs in Forensic Investigations

• Social Security money was partially paid back by the sale of property that bugs helped detectives solve in the Curious Case of the Indianapolis mummies.

• Insect specialists like Neal Haskell are using bugs as powerful allies in criminal cases, especially as technology becomes more sophisticated.

• Bugs, such as mosquitoes, bedbugs, fleas, and lice, are being used to analyze human DNA found in blood meals for forensic investigations.

• The study of insects is still a field with much to learn, especially in investigating death, according to entomologist Lee Gogh.

• Forensic entomology needs to be put on a firmer statistical basis and more modeling is necessary.

• As more scientists enter the field and learn about insect behavior, the value of forensic entomology will continue to grow.

• Law enforcement agencies were initially skeptical of forensic entomology, but it has become a widely accepted and powerful tool for investigations.

• Bugs are the smallest witnesses to murder and their contributions are invaluable to homicide investigators.

• The study of insects is the study of the great tenacity and variety of life.

• Bugs are becoming increasingly important in criminal cases as technology advances.

• Bugs, such as mosquitoes, can be used to analyze human DNA found in blood meals.

• The simplest methods, such as using bugs for forensic investigations, are sometimes the best and most dependable.