Forensic Entomology
dorsal
related or situated on or near the back
invertebrate
an animal lacking a spinal column
parasite
an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal or plant and gets food and protection from it.
omnivore
an animal that eats both plants and other animals
pupa
an insect that is in the stage of development between larva and adult.
maggot
an insect that looks like a small worm and that is a young form of a fly
posterior
near or toward the back of something
medicolegal
of or relating to both medicine and law
molt
to cast off (an outer covering) periodically
Sarcophagid flies
flesh flies; grayish, usually with three distinct longitudinal dark stripes on the dorsal thorax
diptera
flies
Four stages of decay for a body
fresh, bloated, decay, dry
postmortem
happening after death
ambient temperature
outside surrounding temperature
PMI
post mortem interval or the period of time between the actual death and when the body is discovered
oviposition
egg laying by insects
cadaver
a dead body
metamorphosis
a major change in the form or structure of some animals or insects that happens as the animal or insect becomes an adult.
instar
a stage in the life of an arthropod (as an insect) between two successive molts
rigor mortis
a temporary stiffness of a body that happens after death
necrophage
an organism that eats dead or decaying flesh
integument
an outer enclosing layer (as a skin, membrane, or cuticle) of a living thing or one of its parts
spiracles
any of the openings in the body of an arthropod and especially of an insect through which air enters a trachea
forensic entomology
application of the scientific study of insects to criminal and civil investigations
coleoptera
beetles
Calliphorid flies
blowflies; iridescent blue, green, and copper or black bodies
carrion
the flesh of dead animals
larva
the immature, wingless, and often wormlike feeding form that hatches from the egg of many insects
thorax
the middle of the three chief divisions of the body of an insect
succession
the ordered series of insects attracted to a decomposing body
taphonomy
the science which studies the natural process of plant and animal decay
