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                            Library & Multimedia
 Not by the Book: Observations of Delayed Oviposition and Re-Colonization of Human Remains by Blow Flies
NCJ Number
              305518
Journal

*Insects* Volume: 13 Issue: 10 Dated: September 2022 Pages: 879
Author(s)
          Charity G. Owings;
                        Hayden S. McKee-Zech;
                        Sarah T. Schwing;
                        Kristi N. Bugajski;
                        Mary C. Davis;
                        Dawnie W. Steadman
Date Published

September 2022
Length
              14 pages
Annotation
              Postmortem interval estimations can be complicated by the inter-individual variation present in human decomposition. Forensic entomologists may especially face challenges interpreting arthropod evidence in scenarios that are not “by the book”, or that vary in unexpected ways. Therefore, it is important to report instances where blow fly colonization does not align with expected soft tissue decomposition as blow fly larvae are often used to produce a time of colonization (TOC) estimation to infer a minimum PMI.
Abstract
              We followed the decomposition and blow fly activity of three human donors at the Anthropology Research Facility (University of Tennessee). Delayed oviposition occurred on one donor 115 d post-placement, whereas two donors experienced blow fly re-colonization after cessation of the consumption phase, one 22 d and one more than 200 d after blow fly larvae were last observed. A null hypothesis model tested whether the entomological TOC and anthropological total body score (TBS) estimations encompassed the time of placement (TOP) for each donor. While the null hypothesis was rejected for all TOC estimations, it could not be rejected for the TBS estimations. We discuss how the non-linear nature of human decomposition can pose challenges to interpreting blow fly evidence and suggest that forensic entomology practitioners should recognize these limitations in both research endeavors and  We followed the decomposition and blow fly activity of three human donors at the Anthropology Research Facility (University of Tennessee). Delayed oviposition occurred on one donor 115 d post-placement, whereas two donors experienced blow fly re-colonization after cessation of the consumption phase, one 22 d and one more than 200 d after blow fly larvae were last observed. A null hypothesis model tested whether the entomological TOC and anthropological total body score (TBS) estimations encompassed the time of placement (TOP) for each donor. While the null hypothesis was rejected for all TOC estimations, it could not be rejected for the TBS estimations. We discuss how the non-linear nature of human decomposition can pose challenges to interpreting blow fly evidence and suggest that forensic entomology practitioners should recognize these limitations in both research endeavors and applied casework. (Publisher abstract provided)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2018-DU-BX-0180


  
  
        
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  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)


  
  
        
  Award
        The Impact of Drugs on Human Decomposition and the Postmortem Interval: Insect, Scavenger and Microbial Evidence
    
  
  
Date Published: September 1, 2022
    
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