Abstract

context: A Forensic Entomotoxicology is a contemporary technique that makes use of insects as an alternative sample for forensic investigation. In case of recovery of the degraded cadaver, in which body fluids and tissues vanish, the toxicological studies of insects aid in forensic investigation to some extent in such legitimate cases. The drugs consumed by the corpse and further ingested by the insects feeding in the corpse affect the life cycle and development of the insects. Various analytical methods are employed for proper identification, detection, as well as quantitative analysis of the corpse. This paper summarizes the definition, applications, analytical techniques and the future perspective of forensic Entomotoxicology. key message: This article discusses the importance of insects as the toxicological evidence in forensic investigation.

• 1.   Abd Al Galil FM, Zambare SP, Al-Mekhlafi FA, Al-Keridis LA. Effect of dimethoate on the developmental rate of forensic importance Calliphoridae flies. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2021;28(2):1267-71.
• 2.   Al-Khalifa M, Mashaly A, Al-Qahtni A. Impacts of antemortem ingestion of alcoholic beverages on insect successional patterns. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2021;28(1):685-92.
• 3.   Amendt J, Goff ML, Campobasso CP, Grassberger M. Current concepts in forensic entomology. London: Springer Netherlands; 2010.
• 4.   Badenhorst R, Villet M. The uses of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in forensic entomology. Forensic Sci Res. 2018;3(1):2-15.
• 5.   Oliveira BG, Silva-Neto HA, Coltro WKT, Rocha TL, Lopes WR. Lead toxicity in Lucilia cuprina and electrochemical analysis: a simple and low-cost alternative for forensic investigation. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2021;413(12):3201-8.
• 6.   Benecke M. Arthropods and corpses. In: Tsokos M, editor. Forensic Pathology Reviews. Totowa (NJ): Humana Press; 2005. p. 207-40.
• 7.   Brown K, Thorne A, Harvey M. Preservation of Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) pupae for use in post-mortem interval estimation. Forensic Sci Int. 2012;223(1-3):176-83.
• 8.   Bushby SK, Thomas N, Priemel PA, Coulter CV, Rades T, Kieser JA. Determination of methylphenidate in Calliphorid larvae by liquid–liquid extraction and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry–forensic entomotoxicology using an in vivo rat brain model. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2012;70:456-61.
• 9.   Byrd JH, Tomberlin JK. Forensic entomology: the utility of arthropods in legal investigations. 3rd ed. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 2019.
• 10.   Chophi R, Sharma S, Sharma S, Singh R. Forensic entomotoxicology: current concepts, trends and challenges. J Forensic Leg Med. 2019;67:28-36.