Forensic Investigations Entomology - study of insects ASISTM, 2006

Insects Insects 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.

Insects Most arthropods are insects BUT there are also bugs that are NOT insects such as spiders (Arachnida), crayfish & woodlice (Crustacea) and millipedes & centipedes (Diplopoda & Chilopoda collectively known as Myriapoda).

sometimes It is easy to be confused!

Insects Classification 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.

Insects As 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

Schistocerca americana - species name

Russ Ottens, University of Georgia, www.insectimages.org

Calliphora dubia

Bluebodied blow fly Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA

Flesh fly Sarcophagidae Family Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA

House fly

Musca domestica

Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA

Hide beetle Trogidae Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA

Hister beetle

Hister

spp Courtesy Ian Dadour, UWA

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 bisselliella

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

Striped earwig

Labidura riparia

Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org

Mosquito Culicidae Jim Occi, BugPics, www.insectimages.org

Green blow fly

Phaenicia sericata

Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org

Field cricket

Gryllus pennsylvanicus

Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org

Katydid Tettigoniidae Jim Occi, BugPics, www.insectimages.org

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 oculata

Clemson 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

Danaus plexippus

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

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 saccharina

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

Ladybird beetle

Coccinella septempunctata

Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, www.insectimages.org

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

Other bugs that are NOT insects Archanida - Acari (mites & ticks)

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

Other bugs that are NOT insects Crustacea - Oniscidea (crustaceans that live on land)

Woodlice Oniscidea DUIT image database

Pill bug

Armadillidium vulgare

Joseph Berger, www.insectimages.org

References Slides 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 Forest Service. 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.