法醫昆蟲學

法醫昆蟲學（Forensic entomology），為應用昆蟲及其他自然科學的理論與技術，研究並解決司法實踐中有關昆蟲問題的一門科學。
在自然界中，昆蟲不僅取食動物的屍體，還在其屍體中活動，促使大量微生物進入屍體，使之加速崩潰。為法醫昆蟲學一切工作的基礎。

**歷史**
由宋朝法醫學家宋慈在淳祐七年（1247年）成書的法醫學案例著作《洗冤集錄》含括了已知最古老的法醫昆蟲學案件。該謀殺案於端平二年（1235年）發生，一名村民被人用刀刺死。仵作們認為死者的創傷是由鐮刀造成的，而鐮刀是種在收穫季節用於割稻的工具，這一事實使他們懷疑同伴農工涉有重嫌。地方縣令將村民都聚集在衙門廣場，以便暫時收繳鐮刀。幾分鐘內，一大群蒼蠅循著人類無法識別的血跡氣味而來，圍著一把鐮刀，對其他的不屑一顧。很顯然地，該鐮刀的所有者便是罪魁禍首，後來該農工被捕快拿下後請求寬恕。

**屍蟲的工作**
根據法醫人類學家李衍蒨文章〈 昆蟲學二三事 date=20220628205557 〉，人類屍體為其體內的酵素及細菌提供食物，更是昆蟲及動物的盛宴。而蒼蠅多半會於人體死亡後的數小時內找到屍體所在。「母蠅會因為偵測到屍體發出的味道而趕到產卵，特定品種的蒼蠅會在屍體的傷口，或帶有水分而空氣接觸得到的部分產卵，孵化後便成為有屍蟲之稱的蛆蟲（maggots），亦即蒼蠅幼蟲（larvae）。」(李衍蒨，2017年)

**屍蟲的種類**
根據法醫人類學家李衍蒨文章〈 昆蟲學二三事 date=20220628205557 〉，在屍體上常見的蒼蠅品種有麻蠅（Sarcophagidae），麗蠅（Calliphoridae） ，黑水虻（Hermetia illucens）。

**麻蠅（Sarcophagidae）**
「俗稱肉蠅，通常會在有腐肉、糞便或任何正在腐敗的物質上產下幼蟲，極少在傷口上產蛆。」(李衍蒨，2017年)

**麗蠅（Calliphoridae）**
「最先與屍體接觸的昆蟲，可以在 1.6 公里以外的地方聞到屍體的氣味。雌性的麗蠅會在產卵前進食腐肉，繼而出現在屍體周遭。牠們每次產卵超過 100 顆，一生約可產下 2,000 顆，產下的卵看上去很像米粒或一堆堆的飯糰。麗蠅有綠色、藍色及黑色，觸角有光芒。由卵孵化成麗蠅幼蟲約需最多一天的時間，並有 3 個發育階段。每個階段的身長都有明顯分別，亦會脫皮。由於牠們的體溫會受環境而改變，其生長速度亦因而受到影響。在室溫下，牠們從卵變成蛹大約需要一個星期，變成蛹前的幼蟲會離開屍體，並躲到屍體下面或屍體下的泥土待著，之後就會以麗蠅的姿態再次探索這個世界。」(李衍蒨，2017年)

**黑水虻（Hermetia illucens）**
「俗稱Black Soldier Fly，生存力強，強項是搶奪蛆蟲的食物 —— 腐肉，進而驅逐蠅蛆！」(李衍蒨，2017年)

**註釋**

**參考文獻**
《法醫昆蟲學》，胡萃著，重慶出版社出版，2000年- Haskell, Neal H. (2006). "The Science of Forensic Entomology," in Forensic Science and Law: Investigative Applications in Criminal, Civil, and Family Justice, 431–440. Edited by Cyril H. Wecht and John T. Rago. Boca Raton: CRC Press, an imprint of Taylor and Francis Group. ISBN 0849319706.

**延伸閱讀**
cite book|author1=Bass, William|author2=Jon Jefferson|title=Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab The Body Farm|year=2004|url=https://archive.org/details/deathsacreinside0000bass|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-425-19832-2
*cite book|author1=Byrd, J. H.|author2=J. L. Castner|year=2001|title=Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations|url=https://archive.org/details/forensicentomolo0000unse|publisher=CRC Press|location=Boca Raton, FL|isbn=0-8493-8120-7
*cite book|editor=Catts, E. P. & N. H. Haskell|year=1990|title=Entomology & Death: A Procedural Guide|url=https://archive.org/details/entomologydeathp0000unse|publisher=Joyce's Print Shop, Inc.|location=Clemson, SC|isbn=0-9628696-0-0 Spiralbound also aimed at professional entomologists, but shorter and with a popular style.
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*cite book|author=Eisner, Thomas, Maria Eisner & Melody Siegler|title=Secret Weapons|year=2005|url=https://archive.org/details/secretweaponsdef00eisn|publisher=Harvard University Press|location=Cambridge, MA|isbn=978-0-674-01882-2
*last=Gennard
*cite book|author=Goff, M. L.|year=2000|title=A Fly for the Prosecution: How Insect Evidence Helps Solve Crimes|url=https://archive.org/details/flyforprosecutio0000goff|publisher=Harvard University Press|location=Cambridge, MA|isbn=0-674-00220-2
*cite book|author1=Greenberg, B.|author2=J. C. Kunich|year=2002|title=Entomology and the Law: Flies as Forensic Indicators|url=https://archive.org/details/entomologylawfli0000gree|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, United Kingdom|isbn=0-521-80915-0
*dead-url=no 
*cite book|author=Leclerque, M.|year=1978|title=Entomologie médicale et Médecine légale Datation de la Mort|publisher=Masson|location=Paris
*cite journal |author1=Liu, D. |author2=B. Greenberg |year=1989 |title=Immature stages of some flies of forensic importance |journal=Annals of the Entomological Society of America |volume=82 |issue=1 |pages=80–93
*cite book|author=Nuorteva, P.|year=1977|chapter=Sarcosaprophagous insects as forensic indicators|editor1=C. G. Tedeschi|editor2=W. G. Eckert|editor3=L. G. Tedeschi|title=Forensic Medicine: a Study in Trauma and Environmental Hazards|volume=II|publisher=W. B. Saunders|location=New York|pages=1072–1095
*cite book|author=Smith, K. G. V.|year=1986|title=A Manual of Forensic Entomology|url=https://archive.org/details/manualofforensic0000smit|publisher=Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press|location=Ithaca, NY|isbn=0-8014-1927-1 A technical hardback designed for professional entomologists.
*dead-url=no 

**外部連結**
Forensic Entomology- www.forensic-entomology.com by Dr. Jason H. Byrd- European Association for Forensic Entomology homepage- Collection of original articles about Forensic Entomology. Many downloadable illustrated pdf's of cases, including neglect cases. date=20210131162754 - Institute of Forensic Entomology Vienna Click on the pictures for enlargements and graphs- What happens to the body after death date=20210415054956 - Pastoral putrefaction down on the Body Farm: Autopsy, HBO Documentaries date=20100109095321 - Dating Death Great Moments of Science- DNA techniques for forensic entomology date=20051102014345 - pdf about forensic entomology Deon Canyon- Forensic Entomology page from Australia (Ian Dadour)- Visible Proofs date=20190410041126 - Medical Zoology Pages- Survey on carrion-visiting beetles – Research into the fauna of carrion-visiting beetles in Erlangen, Bavaria (2006): Carrion is an ecosystem of its own. Diverse species of beetles – belonging to different guilds – arrive and depart from carrion at different times – succession occurs. The arrival time and growth rates of beetles inhabiting corpses depending on weather, location and type of carrion have been studied.- History of Forensic Entomology (many illustrations) date=20160303233557 - Diagnosis and Keys to South American Coleoptera of Forensic Importance date=20190911202442 - Forensic entomology - use of insects to help solve crime- A Forensic Entomology Case from the Amazon Rain Forest of Brazil- Run models and calculate degree-days date=20160521015128 - Growing Degree Days- Grounds Maintenance magazine date=20200804143039 
*pmid=18641790