Estimating the time of death by examining fly eggs

Abstract

Forensic entomology is an interdisciplinary field of science closely related to forensic medicine, which studies insects from a forensic perspective. At the scene of homicide crimes, if insect remains are found on the victim, these are great help unravel the circumstances of death. The carrion flies (Diptera: Calliphora) are usually the first to colonise the corpse and one of the most frequently observed group of animal at the scene or in the autopsy room. In this case study, I will show how the examination of the eggs of a forensically important fly species found on one victim of the double homicide helped to establish the time of death and its significance as evidence. The fly eggs found on one of the victim, a man, were examined by conventional light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography. These technical tools were crucial in determining the species of insect present and identifying its development stages. The carrion flies - together with other invastigative data - contributed to confirm that the suspect perpetrator was present at the time of the crime. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(38): 1518-1522.