A History of Namibia

The Distribution, Habitat, Diet and Forensic Significance of the ScarabFrankenbergerius forcipatus(Harold, 1881) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

“…However, such details are sometimes recorded on the labels of museum specimens. Information about African arthropod species is gradually being syn thesised by forensic entomologists (Williams & Villet 2006;Villet 2011), because the use of arthropods in legal investigations relies on good knowledge of the likelihood of a species being found on a body. When species feeding in carcasses are identified, that information should be made as accessible as possible to assist in future forensic in vestigations.…”

Identification of arthropods of forensic importance during cold and warm seasons in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa

“…Although reported that the southern hemisphere is recognised as home to many forensically important insect species not found in the northern hemisphere, there is a paucity of information on the geographical distribution and abundance of these forensically important insect species . These species have not been fully studied and exploited to determine their importance and role in forensic investigations Williams and Villet, 2006); the majority of research on carrion insects conducted in southern Africa was not undertaken in the context of forensic investigation (Williams and Villet, 2006). Consequently, lack of information on the importance of these insects in forensics limits the application of entomology in forensic investigation.…”

“…According to , African scientists have been aware of the potential application of entomology in forensic investigations for several years. For example, in South Africa and Zimbabwe, there have been cases in which entomological evidence was used in solving criminal cases Williams and Villet, 2006;. To date, southern African forensic entomology research has been carried out on animals (i.e.…”

“…Molecular research in species identification in forensic entomology is established (Florin and Gyllenstrand, 2002;Tomberlin et al, 2011; but an understanding of the role of quantitative genetics in the development and behaviour of arthropods found at crime scenes has been less appreciated in forensic entomology (Tomberlin et al, 2011). Quantitative genetics is used to identify and analyse differences in phenotypes (Wayne and Ostrander, 2007;Tomberlin et al, 2011), which reduces error in estimating the PMI with insects as evidence because each insect species has its own unique phenotype and developmental profile (Williams and Villet, 2006;Wells and Stevens, 2008;. Hence, it is essential to accurately identify the insect species collected as evidence in solving criminal cases Tomberlin et al, 2011).…”