Forensic Investigations
Entomology - study of insects
ASISTM, 2006
Insects
Insects are a class of Arthropods that have
three segments to their body, one pair of
antennae, three pairs of legs, compound eyes
and breathe air via small holes or spiracles
along the side of their body.
Insects
Most arthropods are insects BUT there are
also bugs that are NOT insects such as
spiders (Arachnida), crayfish & woodlice
(Crustacea) and millipedes & centipedes
(Diplopoda & Chilopoda - sometimes
collectively known as Myriapoda).
It is easy to be confused!
Insects
Classification of the arthropods can also be
slightly different in various information sources.
To make it even more confusing, as more
research is done, scientists may revise or even
change what group various organisms belong
in.
Insects
As you watch the slide presentation, think about the
following:
•
Are there ‘good or bad’ insects?
•
What role do insects play in science?
•
Are insects important in forensic science?
Caterpillar
DUIT image database
Grasshopper
Schistocerca americana - species name
Russ Ottens, University of Georgia, www.insectimages.org
Bluebodied blow fly
Calliphora dubia
Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA
Flesh fly
Sarcophagidae - Family
Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA
House fly
Musca domestica
Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA
Hide beetle
Trogidae
Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA
Hister beetle
Hister spp
Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA
Rove beetle
Nudobius luridipennis
Gerald J. Lenhard, www.insectimages.org
Smooth & Hairy maggots
Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA
Carrion beetle
Oiceoptoma noveboracensis
David Cappaert, www.insectimages.org
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.insectimages.org
Oriental cockroach
Blatta orientalis
Clemson University
USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, www.insectimages.org
Clothes moth
Tineola bisselliella
Clemson University
USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, www.insectimages.org
Striped earwig
Labidura riparia
Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org
Mosquito
Culicidae
Jim Occi, BugPics, www.insectimages.org
Green blow fly
Phaenicia sericata
Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org
Field cricket
Gryllus pennsylvanicus
Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org
Katydid
Tettigoniidae
Jim Occi, BugPics, www.insectimages.org
Black-winged damselfly
Calopteryx maculata
David Cappaert, www.insectimages.org
Stick insect
Anisomorpha spp.
Herbert A. "Joe" Pase III, Texas Forest Service, www.insectimages.org
Lacewing
Chrysopa oculata
Clemson University USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, www.insectimages.org
Horned palassus
Odontotaenius disjunctus
Herbert A. "Joe" Pase III, Texas Forest Service, www.insectimages.org
Rhinocerus beetle
Sinodendron cylindricum
Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, www.insectimages.org
Monarch butterfly - caterpillar
Danaus plexippus
David Cappaert, www.insectimages.org
Monarch butterfly - cocoon
Danaus plexippus
Herbert A. "Joe" Pase III, Texas Forest Service, www.insectimages.org
Monarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.insectimages.org
Firefly
Photinus spp
David Cappaert, www.insectimages.org
Transverse lady beetle eggs
Coccinella transversoguttata
Bradley Higbee, Paramount Farming, www.insectimages.org
Silverfish
Lepisma saccharina
Clemson University USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, www.insectimages.org
Ladybird beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, www.insectimages.org
Termite
Coptotermes formosanus
Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.insectimages.org
Green stink bug
Acrosternum hilare
Susan Ellis, www.insectimages.org
Horse fly
Hematabanus carolinensis
Sturgis McKeever,
Georgia Southern University, Biology Slide Collection, www.insectimages.org
Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
David Cappaert, www.insectimages.org
Chinese mantid
Tenodera aridifolia sinensis
Susan Ellis, www.insectimages.org
Red ant
Formica pallidefulva
Susan Ellis, www.insectimages.org
Giant ichneumon wasp
Rhyssa persuasoria
Boris Hrasovec, University of Zagreb, www.insectimages.org
Other bugs that are NOT
insects
Diplopoda & Chilopoda
(millipedes & centipedes)
Millipede
DUIT image database
Centipede
Tom Coleman, University of Kentucky, www.insectimages.org
Centipede
DUIT image database
Other bugs that are NOT
insects
Arachnida - Araneae
(spiders)
Jumping spider
Platycryptus undatus
David Cappaert, www.insectimages.org
Black widow spider
(closely related to the red-back spider)
Latrodectus mactans
Ronald F. Billings, Texas Forest Service, www.insectimages.org
Tarantula
Ronald F. Billings, Texas Forest Service, www.insectimages.org
Other bugs that are NOT
insects
Arachnida - Scorpiones
(scorpions)
Southern devil scorpion
James O. Howell, The University of Georgia, www.insectimages.org
Other bugs that are NOT
insects
Archanida - Acari
(mites & ticks)
Yellow mite
Lorryia formosa
Eric Erbe, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.insectimages.org
Tick
Ixodes scapularis
Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.insectimages.org
Other bugs that are NOT
insects
Crustacea - Oniscidea
(crustaceans that live on land)
Woodlice
Oniscidea
DUIT image database
Pill bug
Armadillidium vulgare
Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org
References
Slides sourced www.insectimages.org are copyright free and provided by The Source
for Entomology Photos A joint project of the University of Georgia and the USDA Forest
Service. Project Coordinators: Keith Douce, David Moorhead & Charles Bargeron.
Some slides are courtesy of Associate Professor Ian Dadour, The Centre for Forensic Science,
The University of Western Australia
The insect banner has been created from a series of drawings by Paul Ricketts, DUIT
Multimedia, The University of Western Australia.