Entomology - study of insects

Forensic Investigations

ASISTM, 2006

InsectsInsects 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.

InsectsMost 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!

InsectsClassification 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.

InsectsAs 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

Russ Ottens, University of Georgia, www.insectimages.orgSchistocerca americana - species name

Bluebodied blow fly

Calliphora dubia Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA

Flesh fly

Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWASarcophagidae - Family

House fly

Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWAMusca domestica

Hide beetle

Trogidae Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA

Hister beetle

Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWAHister spp

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

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

Clothes moth

Tineola bisselliellaClemson UniversityUSDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, www.insectimages.org

Striped earwig

Labidura riparia Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org

Mosquito

Jim Occi, BugPics, www.insectimages.orgCulicidae

Green blow fly

Phaenicia sericata Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org

Field cricket

Gryllus pennsylvanicus Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org

Katydid

Jim Occi, BugPics, www.insectimages.orgTettigoniidae

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

Chrysopa oculataClemson University - 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

Herbert A. "Joe" Pase III, Texas Forest Service, www.insectimages.org

Danaus plexippus

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

Lepisma saccharinaClemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, www.insectimages.org

Ladybird beetle

Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, www.insectimages.orgCoccinella septempunctata

Termite

Coptotermes formosanus Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.insectimages.org

Green stink bug

Acrosternum hilare Susan Ellis, www.insectimages.org

Horse fly

Hematabanus carolinensis Sturgis McKeever, 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

Archanida - Acari

(mites & ticks)

Other bugs that are NOT insects

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

Crustacea - Oniscidea

(crustaceans that live on land)

Other bugs that are NOT insects

Woodlice

DUIT image databaseOniscidea

Pill bug

Armadillidium vulgare Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org

ReferencesSlides 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 ForestService. 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.