Development and Identification of Corpse-Associated Calliphoridae: Consequences for Estimating the Post-Mortem Interval in Medico-Legal Investigations

Forensic entomology is the application of entomological knowledge in processing forensic cases involving arthropod infested corpses. The question arising most frequently concerns the estimation of a post-mortem interval (PMI). This endeavour can be approached in two different ways. Firstly, the succession of insect colonization can give reasonable evidence about the time interval of a decomposition period. Secondly, the age of the most developed blow fly larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) can indicate a minimum post-mortem interval since blow flies are usually the first colonizers on carcass. To calculate the age of blow fly larvae developing on a corpse, their developmental progress has to be determined as accurately as possible. Development is strictly temperature dependent, therefore, combining the developmental progress and the temperature influencing it, the developmental time of the larvae can be calculated. This book discusses several aspects of forensic entomology: Development, ecology and molecular species identification of Calliphoridae and the consequences for estimating the PMI related to situatial conditions in Germany.