Focus of Forensic

Entomology

Focus of Forensic

Entomology

January 23, 2009January 23, 2009

DefinitionsDefinitions

n Forensic: Pertaining to, connected with, or used in courts of law

n Entomology: The branch of zoology dealing with insects

n Forensic entomology: Interaction between arthropod science and judicial system

3 Major Areas:3 Major Areas:n Urban Entomology

n Human Environment

n Stored Products Entomology

n Insects in food

n Medicocriminal Entomology

n Usually violent crime

Urban EntomologyUrban Entomology

n Human environments

n pests in the home/other environments

n Rural entomology

n Myiasis

n Mortuary neglect

Pests in Human Environments

Pests in Human Environments

n Roaches

n Termites

n Fleas

n Bedbugs

n Nuisance flies

CockroachesCockroachesn 3,500 species of roach

n 55 occur in US

n 5 troublesome in Texas

n German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)

n Brownbanded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

n American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

n Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orentalis)

n Smokybrown Cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa)

TermitesTermitesn Social insects

n Live in colonies or groups in soil, wood

n Cause major damage--more than $2 billion per year in US

FleasFleas

n Small, wingless insects

n Feed on blood of humans and animals

n Most expensive pest for pet owners

n $9 billion per year

n Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) most common in Texas

Bed BugsBed Bugsn Nocturnal blood feeders

n Dwell where hosts live

n Been around since ancient times

n numbers dropped for awhile, now back

n Recent lawsuit: $20 million

n Several setteled for over $100,000

Nuisance Flies (Urban Areas)Nuisance Flies (Urban Areas)

MyiasisMyiasisn Animal or human disease

n Fly larvae feeding on necrotic or living tissue

n “Fly-strike”

Mortuary NeglectMortuary Neglectn Cases where bodies not embalmed

properly

n Maggots and decomposition present before burial

Stored Product Entomology

Stored Product Entomology

n Insects found in food

n Stored in warehouses

n In grocery stores

n In eating establishments

n In home

n Determine if accidental, purposeful

FDA Food Defect Action Levels

FDA Food Defect Action Levels

n Level of defect in food regulated by FDA

n Defect=natural or unavoidable damage, foreign substance in foods for human use that isn’t harmful to humans

n Levels set “because it is economically impractical to grow, harvest, or process raw products that are totally free of non-hazardous, naturally occurring, unavoidable defects”

n If defect action level reached, FDA may prosecute

Insect Parts cannot EXCEED:

Insect Parts cannot EXCEED:

n Ketchup -- 30 fruit fly eggs per 100 grams

n Canned corn -- 2 insect larvae per 100 grams

n Blueberries -- 2 maggots per 100 berries

n Peanut butter -- 50 insect fragments per 100 grams

n Curry powder -- 100 insect fragments per 100 grams

n Wheat -- 1% of grains infested

n Hops -- 2,500 aphids per 10 grams

n Chocolate--80 insect fragments per 100 grams

Bread: 38 insects/parts

Oregano: 300 insects/parts

Tomato Sauce: 25 insects/parts

Mushrooms: 20

insects/parts

Spaghetti: 225

insects/partPepper:

150 insects/par

ts

Italian seasoning:

100 insects/parts

Bread: 38 insects/parts

Oregano: 300 insects/parts

Tomato Sauce: 25 insects/parts

Mushrooms: 20

insects/parts

Spaghetti: 225

insects/partPepper:

150 insects/par

ts

Italian seasoning:

100 insects/parts

Total: 858 insects/parts