Publication Date
Spring 5-2023
School
School of Health Sciences
Major
Biology; Forensic Science
Recommended Citation
Stillion, Kylie, "Forensic Entomotoxicology: The Effects of Drugs on the Life Cycle and Succession of Forensically Important Insects" (2023). Senior Honors Theses. 1325.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/1325
Abstract
Forensic entomotoxicology is a rising branch of forensic science that is utilized with the intent of adapting current methodologies to reflect the effects of drugs more accurately on forensically important insects’ life cycles and succession patterns. This branch of forensic science is often used for post-mortem interval estimation and, as such, has a large impact on the course of a criminal investigation. It is also utilized to determine toxins in corpses that are further along in decomposition or lacking enough tissue to run a toxicological analysis.
Several studies have been conducted to determine how certain drugs will affect the life cycle and insect succession. However, many inconsistencies arise from the lack of replicated data, which arises from the lack of replicated methodologies. Despite this, the information thus far gathered has some useful in-field applications.
