Insect Development and Forensic Entomology

Higley, Leon G.; Haskell, Neal H.

doi:10.1201/9781420036947.ch9

Cited by 52 publications

(84 citation statements)

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“…In the plot of D against DT, the points form an inverted N‐shaped line, where the linear section is represented by the crossbar, and the critical temperatures lie at the vertices (Ikemoto & Takai, 2000). When making predictions using linear regression, the largest errors occur at the extremes of the relationship (Sharpe & DeMichele, 1977; Higley & Haskell, 2001; Sokal & Rohlf, 1995), emphasizing the importance of the data in the mid‐section of the regression. The data outside the upper and lower critical temperatures are excluded from the analysis as they do not fit on the linear part of the relationship (Sharpe & DeMichele, 1977; Ikemoto & Takai, 2000).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most common method used to calculate PMI is the thermal summation model, a linear regression model based on the temperature‐dependent rate of development of immature insects. This method assumes a linear relationship between the rate of development and the temperatures experienced by the insects (Sharpe & DeMichele, 1977; Byrd & Allen, 2001; Higley & Haskell, 2001; Greenberg & Kunish, 2002). The age of an immature insect, used to estimate the PMI, can be assessed from developmental landmarks and temperature‐specific development rates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Good regression models are based on no fewer than six points along the linear section of the relationship (Ikemoto & Takai, 2000; Sokal & Rohlf, 1995). However, because the relationship between developmental rate and temperature is generally sigmoidal (Sharpe & DeMichele, 1977; Ikemoto & Takai, 2000; Byrd & Allen, 2001; Higley & Haskell, 2001), more points are needed to identify the limits of its (approximately) linear mid‐section. As a result at least eight constant temperatures are needed to characterize the model comprehensively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Data quality in thermal summation development models for forensically important blowflies

Richards

Villet

2009

Medical Vet Entomology

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To highlight some issues regarding data quality that are significant in estimating post-mortem intervals (PMI) from maggots, the developmental constants of thermal summation models for development of Chrysomya megacephala Fabricius (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were calculated from incidental data gathered from 12 published studies, and from data generated specifically for the purpose in a single experiment. The focused experiment involved measuring the timing of five developmental landmarks at nine constant temperatures with a sampling resolution of 6-12 h, which is characteristic of other published studies. Combining data from different studies produced inconsistent results because of statistical noise introduced by (at least) disparities in temporal precision, descriptive statistics, geographical location and rearing diets. A robust experimental design to estimate a developmental model should involve at least six constant temperatures, starting at about 7 degrees C above the relevant developmental zero (D0) and going almost to the upper critical temperature, and a temporal sampling interval with a relative precision of about 10%, which requires sampling about every 2 h until hatching, about every 3 h until first ecdysis and about every 6 h until second ecdysis.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Data quality in thermal summation development models for forensically important blowflies

Richards

Villet

2009

Medical Vet Entomology

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“…Quiescence is induced by the immediate effect of temperatures ranging from 0 to 10°C and involves a deceleration of insect metabolic activity (4). However, when a “maggot mass” is formed, the maggot mass temperature may be sufficient to allow continued development and is essential in allowing development (5). The objectives of this case study were to highlight (i) the importance of the case history in PMI estimation and (ii) the growth of blowfly maggots stored in a morgue cooler.…”

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confidence: 99%

Growth of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) Maggots in a Morgue Cooler*

Thevan

Ahmad

Rawi

et al. 2010

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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In estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) using maggots obtained during autopsy, the forensic entomologist makes decisions regarding the effects of low-temperature storage of the body on the insects. In this case report, a corpse was found in an abandoned house in the residential area of Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia. The maggots were found to be alive inside the mouth of the deceased although the corpse had been in the morgue cooler for 12 days. The maggots were reared and identified as Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius). The emerged adult flies were kept as a stock colony, and the duration of development under the indoor fluctuating temperature regime was studied. The total duration of developmental process of this species was 9.5 ± 0.5 days, and the PMI estimated was 3.2 ± 0.6 days. This case report demonstrates the survival of Ch. megacephala maggots for 12 days and their growth inside the morgue cooler.

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“…Yet this pressing problem has not resulted in an acceptable test that can firmly and precisely establish the PMI. To add to the challenge, once remains are completely skeletonized, the utility of recent case data such as insects is severely limited or negligible. When skeletal remains alone have been the focus , qualitative indicators such as surface texture and level of preservation have been proposed .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Citrate Content of Bone as a Measure of Postmortem Interval: An External Validation Study

Brown

Bunch

Froome

et al. 2017

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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The postmortem interval (PMI) of skeletal remains is a crucial piece of information that can help establish the time dimension in criminal cases. Unfortunately, the accurate and reliable determination of PMI from bone continues to evade forensic investigators despite concerted efforts over the past decades to develop suitable qualitative and quantitative methods. A relatively new PMI method based on the analysis of citrate content of bone was developed by Schwarcz et al. The main objective of our research was to determine whether this work could be externally validated. Thirty-one bone samples were obtained from the Forensic Anthropology Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office. Results from analyzing samples with PMI greater than 2 years suggest that the hypothetical relationship between the citrate content of bone and PMI is much weaker than reported. It was also observed that the average absolute error between the PMI value estimated using the equation proposed by Schwarcz et al. and the actual ("true") PMI of the sample was negative indicating an underestimation in PMI. These findings are identical to those reported by Kanz et al. Despite these results this method may still serve as a technique to sort ancient from more recent skeletal cases, after further, similar validation studies have been conducted.

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Insect Development and Forensic Entomology

Cited by 52 publications

References 0 publications

Data quality in thermal summation development models for forensically important blowflies

Data quality in thermal summation development models for forensically important blowflies

Growth of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) Maggots in a Morgue Cooler*

Citrate Content of Bone as a Measure of Postmortem Interval: An External Validation Study

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