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

Clemson University
Blatta orientalis USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, www.insectimages.org
 Clothes moth

Clemson University
Tineola bisselliella USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series,
 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

Clemson University -
Chrysopa oculata 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,

 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

Clemson University -
Lepisma saccharina 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

Sturgis McKeever,
Hematabanus carolinensis 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.