Insect Evidence
We’re still trying to work out the bugs in the new system. In the meantime, here’s some real-life, crime-solving bugs.
Maggots are true eating machines. One end is comprised of biting and chewing parts. The other end is an open airway. That’s right, they have the unique ability to breathe while they eat – like cops at a buffet.
If detectives discover only fly eggs on a body, with no live maggot presence, the victim has probably been deceased approximately one day. The presence of larvae 5mm long indicates the victim has been deceased for approximately 1.5 days, etc.
* Notice – Due to the technical difficulties we experienced during the past few days Tuesday’s guest blogger will be rescheduled. Nathan Bransford will be here as scheduled on Wednesday. Thanks for your patience.
Lee, that was just gross.
I have a view of hunky working men putting up new siding on my house. The view doesn’t bug me one bit.
Heck I have a cube with a view of the cube next to me.
You have an ocean view. I have a view of the PD’s parking lot. Anybody else see something wrong with this?
I recall a CSI episode where someone ‘faslified’ the insect evidence (of course Grissom figured it out), and wondered how precise things could be ‘for real.’
Enjoy your ocean views, Lee! I’m stuck with the dang upper 80’s again. Looking forward to one quick escape to central NY in 2 weeks. But summer is here for the duration, I’m afraid. Mostly it’s mosquitoes that bug me.
Glad I’m able to help get your mornings off to a good start.
SZ – Well…not really. Yes, insects are used for crime-solving, but not as often as TV would have us think. I’m curious. How many of the cops who visit this site have ever used insect evidence to help solve a crime. I, for one, have collected maggots and other bugs, but never actually used the findings in court.
By the way, I’m away from the office this week, so I’m writing The Graveyard Shift from hotel rooms. It’s tough to write, too, with the ocean just outside my window. Please bear with me.
Oooh I love the bit on maggot evidence! Priceless.
This may be one little factoid that CSI gets right yes ? They use bugs a lot.
As for anyone who used to question why I have elected cremation …
Another bug collector was Alfred Kinsey. He collected gall wasps for his doctoral project.
Well, that was lovely first thing in the morning.
And bugs are used to clean the flesh off of skeletons for preservation as museum specimens, too. My husband used to bury the carcasses he salvaged (marine mammal variety) behind the Miami zoo.
There’s something about the description of where the Green Bottle Fly lays it’s eggs that causes me to cringe.