Insects of Forensic Importance

Insects of Forensic Importance Quiz Crafted By-

Kratika Mishra

Senior Scientific Officer

Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science India Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi

Introduction to Insects of Forensic Importance

Right from the early stages insects are attracted to the decomposing body and may lay eggs in it. By studying the insect population and the developing larval stages, forensic scientists can estimate the postmortem index, any change in position of the corpse as well as the cause of death. 

Let's look at the questions and their answer. 

Ques 1. What can forensic entomology be used to determine?

a) Time of death

b) Neglect of the elderly

c) Location of death

d) All of these

Answer-d) All of these

Ques 2. What insects are the first to appear on the dead?

a) Beetles                                                    

b) Ants

c) Mites                                                

d) Flies

Answer- d) Flies

Ques 3. What method of forensic entomology is used to determine time since death when the corpse has been dead from one month to a year or more?

a) Accumulated degree hour technique                                                     

b) Maggot age and development

c) Successional waves of insects

d) Questioned epistemological examination                                                        

Answer- c) Successional waves of insects

Ques 4. Which of these insects are considered to be late stage scavengers?

a) Macrocheles mites                                                     

b) Hide beetles

c) Hister beetles                                                        

d) Devil’s coach- horse beetles

Answer- b) Hide beetles

Ques 5. Can DNA technology be utilized in forensic entomology?

a) Yes - but only to determine species of insect

b) No - the DNA absorbed by an insect is too minute for analysis

c) No - the DNA is destroyed by the insect's digestive tract

d) Yes - to determine insect species and/or human DNA from victim or suspect if the insect fed on the individual

Ques 6. How long is a 1st Instra Larva after 1.8 days?

a) 6mm long                                                      

b) 4mm long 

c) 3.5mm long                                                       

d) 5mm long

Answer- d) 5mm long

Ques 7. How would a forensic entomologist define a "flyspeck"?

a) Minute larvae from fly infestation

b) Tracking of pooled blood by flies

c) The feces from a fly that has fed on blood

d) Any kind of a small discoloration found at the crime scene

Answer- c) The feces from a fly that has fed on blood

Ques 8. The chief excretory organ in insects is:

a) Malpighian tubules                                                      

b) Green gland

c) Cuticle                                                        

d) Fat Body

Answer- a) Malpighian tubules 

Ques 9. What are the three subdivisions of forensic entomology?

a) Blood spatter, trace evidence, toxicology

b) Medicolegal, urban, and stored product pests

c) Epistemology, osteology, insect proliferation

d) Human adaptation, necrophagia, serological impact

Answer- b) Medicolegal, urban, and stored product pests

Ques 10. The development stages between molts are called

a) Cocoons                                                      

b) Instars

c) Morphs                                                     

d) Forms

Answer- b) Instars