Exam 2 Entomology and Taphnonomy

Question 1

what is forensic taphonomy?

Answer 1

Forensic taphonomy is the study of the history of the body since death

Question 2

what factors can affect taphonomic estimates?

Answer 2

Determining triggering event
Cultural factors
Environmental factors
Carcass temperature and loss of blood
Atmospheric conditions
Location of deposition of body – water, underground, on top of ground

Question 3

what is an exoskeleton?

Answer 3

the harder outer shell of anthropoids or most bugs

Question 4

What is the life cycle of bugs?

Answer 4

• Larvae/maggots
• molt into instars
• larvae transition into pupa w/ hardened outer shell
• pupa turns into their full adult form from there

Question 5

The life cycle of flies

Answer 5

• Files lay eggs into corpse
• Eggs hatch into maggots in 1 - 2 days
• Maggots go through 3 instar (larval) stages in 7 days
• after the 3rd instar stage, maggots crawl from corpse to pupate in 7 days
• Fly develops and emerges