Forensic Entomology: A Supplement to Forensic death investigation

Despite 150 years of use, forensic entomology is still an emerging field of forensic science and is yet to find an undisputed place in the legal proceedings on account of the absence of sufficient background data and also due to the dearth of professional forensic entomologists. At present, very few entomologists are engaged in this discipline and a lot of useful evidence for estimation of PMI goes waste due to shortage of base-line data and adequate expertise. A large base-line data on the taxonomy, zoogeographic distribution, biology and ecology of insects involved in the decomposition of dead animals needs to be established to avail maximal achievement of the objective evidence of estimating time since death. A thorough knowledge of certain fauna of different geographical areas is required for utmost use of insects in forensic investigations. It needs to be realized that a forensic entomologist can be a valuable adjunct to the forensic pathologist since the former can reasonably support and defend latter in his estimation of PMI by interpreting the insect evidence either on the basis of cadaver fauna or on the basis of age of developing insects.