Entomotoxicology: A review on its significance in Forensic Science

The human corpse is exploited by a variety of fauna ranging from microbes to vertebrate scavengers. Arthropods or insects usually constitute major proportion of invading fauna population. Many a times deaths are accounted after a long period of time and corpses are found in decomposed or skeletonised state. In such circumstances, there wouldn’t be enough tissue for toxicological analysis. Entomotoxicology is that branch of forensic entomology which deals with utilizing the potential of insects in drug detection and identification of toxins in decomposing tissues. The importance of insects in the decomposition of human bodies was first documented in the early 19th century by biologist Carl von Linne. Conventional parameters like body temperature and rigor are only accurate for a couple of days and are eventually altered due to differences in ambient temperature. Accessible researches have demonstrated that insects aid crime scene investigation as alternative toxicological samples and determinants of post-mortem time interval. Immature larvae stages and adult vary in absorbing foreign chemicals from the cadaver. The ability to retain toxicological indications allow forensic entomological evidence to be a valuable source of information about the past behaviour and medical history of the deceased. Literature concerning entomotoxicology, their storage and their evidentiary value in forensic science has been extensively studied and reviewed with the intent to highlight existing work on entomotoxicology and shed light on the additional work that is needed.