When insect development meets insect succession: Advantages of combining different methods and insect taxa in estimating the post-mortem interval
Insects are frequently used to estimate post-mortem interval (PMI). Experts usually base their estimates on a single insect taxon and use a single estimation method, even if multiple taxa are present on a cadaver or multiple methods can be applied. In this article we present a case report where mult...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Forensic Science International: Synergy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X25000038 |
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| author | Szymon Matuszewski Anna Mądra-Bielewicz |
| author_facet | Szymon Matuszewski Anna Mądra-Bielewicz |
| author_sort | Szymon Matuszewski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Insects are frequently used to estimate post-mortem interval (PMI). Experts usually base their estimates on a single insect taxon and use a single estimation method, even if multiple taxa are present on a cadaver or multiple methods can be applied. In this article we present a case report where multiple insect evidence and methods were used in a homicide case to estimate PMI. Since the true PMI was known, we were able to assess the estimation errors of each method as applied to particular insect evidence. The final grand PMI was derived from a developmental estimate based on third instar larvae of Lucilia illustris/L. caesar species group and a successional estimate based on adult Thanatophilus rugosus beetles. By averaging these estimates we got the grand PMI of almost perfect accuracy (1 % relative error, PMI range: 4.39 ± 0.77 days), which is of course an exceptional situation for entomological methods of estimating PMI. Furthermore, this was the first case report in which the presence and absence of subsequent life stages of carrion insects coupled with the estimation of their pre-appearance interval were used to estimate the PMI range. The results regarding the minimum PMI were fully consistent with the results obtained using the classical developmental method. This finding indicates that in some cases the presence/absence method can be used interchangeably with the developmental method. Finally, we discussed the prospects and limitations of combining insect evidence and methods of their analysis in estimating PMI. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e8c4ed881374965a1dcd1ad84daf54f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2589-871X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Science International: Synergy |
| spelling | doaj-art-4e8c4ed881374965a1dcd1ad84daf54f2025-01-22T05:43:48ZengElsevierForensic Science International: Synergy2589-871X2025-06-0110100574When insect development meets insect succession: Advantages of combining different methods and insect taxa in estimating the post-mortem intervalSzymon Matuszewski0Anna Mądra-Bielewicz1Laboratory of Criminalistics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Al. Niepodległości 53, 61-714, Poznań, Poland; Center for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, 61-614, Poznań, Poland; Corresponding author. Laboratory of Criminalistics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Al. Niepodległości 53, 61-714, Poznań, Poland.Laboratory of Criminalistics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Al. Niepodległości 53, 61-714, Poznań, Poland; Center for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, 61-614, Poznań, PolandInsects are frequently used to estimate post-mortem interval (PMI). Experts usually base their estimates on a single insect taxon and use a single estimation method, even if multiple taxa are present on a cadaver or multiple methods can be applied. In this article we present a case report where multiple insect evidence and methods were used in a homicide case to estimate PMI. Since the true PMI was known, we were able to assess the estimation errors of each method as applied to particular insect evidence. The final grand PMI was derived from a developmental estimate based on third instar larvae of Lucilia illustris/L. caesar species group and a successional estimate based on adult Thanatophilus rugosus beetles. By averaging these estimates we got the grand PMI of almost perfect accuracy (1 % relative error, PMI range: 4.39 ± 0.77 days), which is of course an exceptional situation for entomological methods of estimating PMI. Furthermore, this was the first case report in which the presence and absence of subsequent life stages of carrion insects coupled with the estimation of their pre-appearance interval were used to estimate the PMI range. The results regarding the minimum PMI were fully consistent with the results obtained using the classical developmental method. This finding indicates that in some cases the presence/absence method can be used interchangeably with the developmental method. Finally, we discussed the prospects and limitations of combining insect evidence and methods of their analysis in estimating PMI.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X25000038Forensic entomologyPost-mortem intervalPre-appearance intervalInsect ageEstimation errors |
| spellingShingle | Szymon Matuszewski Anna Mądra-Bielewicz When insect development meets insect succession: Advantages of combining different methods and insect taxa in estimating the post-mortem interval Forensic Science International: Synergy Forensic entomology Post-mortem interval Pre-appearance interval Insect age Estimation errors |
| title | When insect development meets insect succession: Advantages of combining different methods and insect taxa in estimating the post-mortem interval |
| title_full | When insect development meets insect succession: Advantages of combining different methods and insect taxa in estimating the post-mortem interval |
| title_fullStr | When insect development meets insect succession: Advantages of combining different methods and insect taxa in estimating the post-mortem interval |
| title_full_unstemmed | When insect development meets insect succession: Advantages of combining different methods and insect taxa in estimating the post-mortem interval |
| title_short | When insect development meets insect succession: Advantages of combining different methods and insect taxa in estimating the post-mortem interval |
| title_sort | when insect development meets insect succession advantages of combining different methods and insect taxa in estimating the post mortem interval |
| topic | Forensic entomology Post-mortem interval Pre-appearance interval Insect age Estimation errors |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X25000038 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT szymonmatuszewski wheninsectdevelopmentmeetsinsectsuccessionadvantagesofcombiningdifferentmethodsandinsecttaxainestimatingthepostmorteminterval AT annamadrabielewicz wheninsectdevelopmentmeetsinsectsuccessionadvantagesofcombiningdifferentmethodsandinsecttaxainestimatingthepostmorteminterval |