2016 Olin Sewall Pettingill All-Camp Lecture in Natural History

Forensic entomology is a branch of science that focuses on the trace evidence of insect and arthropod activity during legal investigations. It includes three branches, the most famous of which is medico-criminal entomology, or the study of insects that help to provide information useful in cases of human, animal, and livestock abuse, neglect, and questionable death. Three main models are employed for this work: maggot growth rate models, accumulated degree-day models, and ecological succession models. A skilled forensic entomologist will use all three models to assess a situation and then work backwards through time to help law enforcement and medical physicians piece together information.

In this lecture, Dr. Sibyl Bucheli will review the history of forensic entomology, the mathematical foundation of all the models, and briefly discuss future direction in forensic entomology. She will also highlight some of the casework in which she has been involved including:

* Case-making caterpillars and the human DNA clues they preserved
* Insect succession on a human cadaver during the cooler months in Texas
* The infamous Swearengen vs. the state of Texas case
* Human lung myiasis

Please note: This lecture contains graphic images of human decomposition.

This event is free and open to the public.