There are so many different aspects of forensics that you need to know about. If you’re interested in the subject, then you might have come across the term “forensic entomology” at some point in time. This is a type of forensic science that involves using insects to aid in criminal or legal investigations. It’s an interesting corner of the forensic world that you will want to know a bit more about. 

There Are Three Types of Forensic Entomology

When you look into it, you’ll find that there are three main types of forensic entomology that you need to know about. The first is referred to as medicolegal entomology, and it involves information about insects that feast on human remains. Next, there is the urban area of forensic entomology, which focuses on insects that feed on both the living and the dead. Finally, you have stored product pests, which involves legal cases about bugs being found in food, and forensic entomologists will sometimes be called as witnesses in these cases. 

Why Forensic Entomology Is So Useful

Forensic entomology is very useful for a large number of different reasons. When it comes to the medicolegal category of forensic entomology, it’s possible to use forensic information about bugs to determine when a victim died. Being able to gain more insight into what happened to a victim through forensic entomology is very useful. Urban forensic entomology can also be quite helpful since scientists can differentiate bug bites or other marks from potential signs of abuse. 

You might not have expected that insects could play such a huge role in various criminal or legal investigations, but you can now see how crucial they are. Investigators can get information about whether eggs were placed in a carcass or other types of data to determine a time of death. There is a lot that you can learn through forensic entomology that you would otherwise not be able to. It has become an imperative part of forensics that cannot be ignored, and now that you know more about it, it’ll be easier to appreciate it.