Honey Bee Project
Honey bees are important because they pollinate a lot of our crops. Crops such as: Wheat, Fruits, Nuts, etc. Bees also help pollinate flowers and other things that make the world pretty and colorful. Think of it this way, if bees went extinct we would have very little fruits and wheat and nuts and lots of other plants. So I think that we should be concerned about honey bees because without them we will have problems with our crops and flowers.
I chose to focus on colony collapse disorder. My project is a comedy skit with Kyle Colley. He focused on varroa mites. Kyle and I made our comedy skit full of funny songs. We did not talk to much about what we research but we did a bit, and in the end it was funny so it was worth it. I am most proud of the songs Kyle and I wrote because I thought that they were funny and entertaining. But if I could go back to change something I would probably add a little more that just songs in my video. I wish there was a little more diversity in it.
I chose to focus on colony collapse disorder. My project is a comedy skit with Kyle Colley. He focused on varroa mites. Kyle and I made our comedy skit full of funny songs. We did not talk to much about what we research but we did a bit, and in the end it was funny so it was worth it. I am most proud of the songs Kyle and I wrote because I thought that they were funny and entertaining. But if I could go back to change something I would probably add a little more that just songs in my video. I wish there was a little more diversity in it.
"EPA." Colony Collapse Disorder. N.p., 9 Sept. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://www2.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/colony-collapse-disorder>
· Dead bees doesn’t necessarily mean CCD
o If there are piles of dead bees around a hive then that usually isn’t CCD
· Why CCD is happening
o Varroa Mites
o Bee Stress
o Changes in habitat
o New diseases
o Poor nutrition
o Pesticide poisoning
· The US Department Of Agriculture is trying to stop CCD
o They are testing bees for pesticides and diseases
This source will help me with my project because I now know more about why CCD is happening. I do have to do a little bit of research so I know what Varroa Mites are and what they do but I know that they are not good for bees. I know that the US DOA is testing for pesticides and diseases that could be causing CCD. Learning this sort of helps me come up with jokes about bees. Kyle and I are going to also write a funny song about CCD so learning about why it is happening would help and also knowing about varroa mites will help as well.
“During the winter of 2006-2007, some beekeepers began to report unusually high losses of 30-90 percent of their hives. As many as 50 percent of all affected colonies demonstrated symptoms inconsistent with any known causes of honey bee death:”
· “Sudden loss of a colony’s worker bee population with very few dead bees found near the colony.”
· “The queen and brood (young) remained, and the colonies had relatively abundant honey and pollen reserves.” (EPA Colony Collapse Disorder)
“Certain pesticides are harmful to bees. That’s why we require instructions for protecting bees on the labels of pesticides that are known to be particularly harmful to bees. This is one of many reasons why everyone must read and follow pesticide label instructions. When most or all of the bees in a hive are killed by overexposure to a pesticide, we call that a beekill incident resulting from acute pesticide poisoning. But acute pesticide poisoning of a hive is very different from CCD and is almost always avoidable.” (EPA Colony Collapse Disorder)
"Vanishing Bees." Colony Collapse Disorder. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/bees.asp>
· If honey bees go extinct then we would loose $15 billion worth of crops
· Also our diets would change drastically
· Beekeepers started freaking out about disappearing bees in 2006
· Researchers estimate that 1/3 of honeybee colonies in the country have vanished
· Bees being sick, pesticides, parasitic mites (varroa mites), an inadequate food supply and a new virus that targets bees' immune systems
This Article doesn’t have much to learn but it still has some things. For example I now know that 1/3 of honeybee colonies in the country have vanished. That is a lot of honeybees, probably over 5 billion bees. I also learned about how much money we would loose if they went away. Honeybees are to damn expensive! A lot of our fruits and vegetables would die if honeybees weren’t pollinating them. I think the plant that would destroy us the most if honeybees went away would be cotton. Cotton helps us create many things and without it we would have to change what we make certain things out of.
“Why are the bees leaving? Scientists studying the disorder believe a combination of factors could be making bees sick, including pesticide exposure, invasive parasitic mites, an inadequate food supply and a new virus that targets bees' immune systems. More research is essential to determine the exact cause of the bees' distress.” (Vanishing Bees)
Fruits and Nuts
Vegetables
Field Crops
· Almonds
· Apples
· Apricots
· Avocadoes
· Blueberries
· Boysenberries
· Cherries
· Citrus
· Cranberries
· Grapes
· Kiwifruit
· Loganberries
· Macadamia nuts
· Nectarines
· Olives
· Peaches
· Pears
· Plums/Prunes
· Raspberries
· Strawberries
· Asparagus
· Broccoli
· Carrots
· Cauliflower
· Celery
· Cucumbers
· Cantaloupe
· Honeydew
· Onions
· Pumpkins
· Squash
· Watermelons
· Alfalfa Hay
· Alfalfa Seed
· Cotton Lint
· Cotton Seed
· Legume Seed
· Peanuts
· Rapeseed
· Soybeans
· Sugar Beets
· Sunflowers
"Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Honey Bees1." EDIS New Publications RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in720>
· An insufficient number of bees to maintain the amount of brood in the colony
· The workforce is composed largely of younger adult bees
· The cluster is reluctant to consume food provided to them by the beekeeper
· Causes of CCD
o Pesticides
o Chemical use in bee colonies
o Genetically modified crops
o Chemical toxins in the environment
o Varroa mites
o Nutrition
o Stressors
Beekeepers are spending lots money to keep honeybees safe and happy so we keep our food supply. The more honeybees we have, the more crops we will have. Almonds will struggle to survive if honeybees go extinct. Pollination is extremely important in the world of fruit, vegetables, and nuts. Without it, they will go away almost completely.
“Beekeepers managing their bees for purposes of pollination load their colonies on trucks and move them around the country, going from blooming crop to blooming crop. Growers pay beekeepers from $40-150 per colony just to ensure that they will have an adequate supply of honeybees to pollinate their crop. In return, the growers benefit by having a higher fruit/vegetable/nut production per acre, larger size, and better shape of the product, and even enhanced product taste in many instances.”
“The benefits of honey bee pollination are not to be taken lightly. The simple act of beekeepers moving honeybees around the country ensures our country's food supply. Agriculture needs honey bees and their disappearance is cause for concern. Yet, no one believes that honeybees will disappear altogether, even with the concerns over CCD. Instead, the average American may experience increased food prices and decreased food availability if honeybees continue to die at the current rate. The almond industry illustrates this point well.”
· Dead bees doesn’t necessarily mean CCD
o If there are piles of dead bees around a hive then that usually isn’t CCD
· Why CCD is happening
o Varroa Mites
o Bee Stress
o Changes in habitat
o New diseases
o Poor nutrition
o Pesticide poisoning
· The US Department Of Agriculture is trying to stop CCD
o They are testing bees for pesticides and diseases
This source will help me with my project because I now know more about why CCD is happening. I do have to do a little bit of research so I know what Varroa Mites are and what they do but I know that they are not good for bees. I know that the US DOA is testing for pesticides and diseases that could be causing CCD. Learning this sort of helps me come up with jokes about bees. Kyle and I are going to also write a funny song about CCD so learning about why it is happening would help and also knowing about varroa mites will help as well.
“During the winter of 2006-2007, some beekeepers began to report unusually high losses of 30-90 percent of their hives. As many as 50 percent of all affected colonies demonstrated symptoms inconsistent with any known causes of honey bee death:”
· “Sudden loss of a colony’s worker bee population with very few dead bees found near the colony.”
· “The queen and brood (young) remained, and the colonies had relatively abundant honey and pollen reserves.” (EPA Colony Collapse Disorder)
“Certain pesticides are harmful to bees. That’s why we require instructions for protecting bees on the labels of pesticides that are known to be particularly harmful to bees. This is one of many reasons why everyone must read and follow pesticide label instructions. When most or all of the bees in a hive are killed by overexposure to a pesticide, we call that a beekill incident resulting from acute pesticide poisoning. But acute pesticide poisoning of a hive is very different from CCD and is almost always avoidable.” (EPA Colony Collapse Disorder)
"Vanishing Bees." Colony Collapse Disorder. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/bees.asp>
· If honey bees go extinct then we would loose $15 billion worth of crops
· Also our diets would change drastically
· Beekeepers started freaking out about disappearing bees in 2006
· Researchers estimate that 1/3 of honeybee colonies in the country have vanished
· Bees being sick, pesticides, parasitic mites (varroa mites), an inadequate food supply and a new virus that targets bees' immune systems
This Article doesn’t have much to learn but it still has some things. For example I now know that 1/3 of honeybee colonies in the country have vanished. That is a lot of honeybees, probably over 5 billion bees. I also learned about how much money we would loose if they went away. Honeybees are to damn expensive! A lot of our fruits and vegetables would die if honeybees weren’t pollinating them. I think the plant that would destroy us the most if honeybees went away would be cotton. Cotton helps us create many things and without it we would have to change what we make certain things out of.
“Why are the bees leaving? Scientists studying the disorder believe a combination of factors could be making bees sick, including pesticide exposure, invasive parasitic mites, an inadequate food supply and a new virus that targets bees' immune systems. More research is essential to determine the exact cause of the bees' distress.” (Vanishing Bees)
Fruits and Nuts
Vegetables
Field Crops
· Almonds
· Apples
· Apricots
· Avocadoes
· Blueberries
· Boysenberries
· Cherries
· Citrus
· Cranberries
· Grapes
· Kiwifruit
· Loganberries
· Macadamia nuts
· Nectarines
· Olives
· Peaches
· Pears
· Plums/Prunes
· Raspberries
· Strawberries
· Asparagus
· Broccoli
· Carrots
· Cauliflower
· Celery
· Cucumbers
· Cantaloupe
· Honeydew
· Onions
· Pumpkins
· Squash
· Watermelons
· Alfalfa Hay
· Alfalfa Seed
· Cotton Lint
· Cotton Seed
· Legume Seed
· Peanuts
· Rapeseed
· Soybeans
· Sugar Beets
· Sunflowers
"Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Honey Bees1." EDIS New Publications RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in720>
· An insufficient number of bees to maintain the amount of brood in the colony
· The workforce is composed largely of younger adult bees
· The cluster is reluctant to consume food provided to them by the beekeeper
· Causes of CCD
o Pesticides
o Chemical use in bee colonies
o Genetically modified crops
o Chemical toxins in the environment
o Varroa mites
o Nutrition
o Stressors
Beekeepers are spending lots money to keep honeybees safe and happy so we keep our food supply. The more honeybees we have, the more crops we will have. Almonds will struggle to survive if honeybees go extinct. Pollination is extremely important in the world of fruit, vegetables, and nuts. Without it, they will go away almost completely.
“Beekeepers managing their bees for purposes of pollination load their colonies on trucks and move them around the country, going from blooming crop to blooming crop. Growers pay beekeepers from $40-150 per colony just to ensure that they will have an adequate supply of honeybees to pollinate their crop. In return, the growers benefit by having a higher fruit/vegetable/nut production per acre, larger size, and better shape of the product, and even enhanced product taste in many instances.”
“The benefits of honey bee pollination are not to be taken lightly. The simple act of beekeepers moving honeybees around the country ensures our country's food supply. Agriculture needs honey bees and their disappearance is cause for concern. Yet, no one believes that honeybees will disappear altogether, even with the concerns over CCD. Instead, the average American may experience increased food prices and decreased food availability if honeybees continue to die at the current rate. The almond industry illustrates this point well.”
Dissection Project
For my dissection project I chose to dissect a pig. There was no real reason that I chose a pig but I just did, maybe it is because I don't like bacon... Anyways, I learned a lot about the anatomy of humans and animals. I did struggle with this project because science is not one of my strong subjects. I did learn about how the human body works. Through this dissection of my pig I was able to see where these parts are in a body, and what they somewhat look like. It was obviously different than a human because it was a pig but it was still helpful in learning about the body.
Crime Scene Project
We began the DNA/Exoneration project with the west memphis three. This is a story of three young men (16, 17, 18 years old) who were convicted of killing three little boys (7, 8, 9 years old). These people were innocent. We watched a movie about what happened and how these people were convicted and how they got out of prison using DNA. Soon after a Ken Marsh, a man who was convicted for killing a little boy he was babysitting. The boy was not killed by Ken, the boy fell off the couch and hit his head very hard. During the ambulance ride to the hospital the doctors gave the boy a drug that makes blood rush to his head. Then they thought that he was losing to much blood so they gave him more blood. This resulted in that extra blood rushing to his head and killing him. They said that Ken killed the boy, so Ken went to prison for twenty years until they figured out using DNA techniques that Ken did not kill they boy. Ken came into they school and talked to the class about this event. We then began our crime scene project. We used different methods of solving crimes to solve our fake crimes.
In this project, we learned multiple techniques of how to solve a crime. we learned Casting Techniques, we learned Forensic Entomology, we learned Blood Typing, we learned Conducting a Autopsy, and we learned DNA. We learned about these things as we did the project. Then once we learned about them, we used that information to solve our crimes. We had to write reports on these subjects and make sure they were in out binders.
I think that I did well on focusing in class to get work done. I tried to stay focused in class so that I would not have homework and so if I had any questions I could ask Colleen right away. I think that if I did this project again I would spend more time with Colleen on my papers so that I can do better on them. I am not very good at writing scientific papers so I had lots of trouble doing this.
In this project, we learned multiple techniques of how to solve a crime. we learned Casting Techniques, we learned Forensic Entomology, we learned Blood Typing, we learned Conducting a Autopsy, and we learned DNA. We learned about these things as we did the project. Then once we learned about them, we used that information to solve our crimes. We had to write reports on these subjects and make sure they were in out binders.
I think that I did well on focusing in class to get work done. I tried to stay focused in class so that I would not have homework and so if I had any questions I could ask Colleen right away. I think that if I did this project again I would spend more time with Colleen on my papers so that I can do better on them. I am not very good at writing scientific papers so I had lots of trouble doing this.
Blood Typing
Forensic science being used: Blood typing
In the year 1900, Karl Landsteiner at the University of Vienna, discovered why some blood transfusions were successful while others could be deadly. Landsteiner discovered the ABO blood group system by mixing the red cells and serum of each of his staff. He demonstrated that the serum of some people agglutinated the red cells of other. From these early experiments, he identified three types, called A, B and C (C was later to be re-named O for the German “Ohne”, meaning “without”, or “Zero”, “null” in English). The fourth less frequent blood group AB, was discovered a year later. In 1930, Landsteiner received the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine for his work. As investigations have demonstrated on monkeys, human blood groups are very old genetic indicators which have evolved during several million years. Based on the primary races hypothesis, it was thought that in the three major races of man, blood groups A in Europe, B in Asian, and finally O in South America have been emerged and gradually due to the migration and mixing of the races, became the present situation. But we know that in each continent, the isolated populations are seen that have completely different blood groups. For example, there is relatively high prevalence of blood group O in Siberian inhabitants; also this blood group is very common in some areas of Switzerland.
Blood is classified into different blood types called A, B, AB, and O. Your immune system can usually tell its own blood cells from blood cells from those of another person. If other blood cells enter your body, your immune system may already have antibodies against them. These antibodies will work to destroy the blood cells that your immune system does not recognize. Another way blood cells may be classified is by Rh factors. People who have Rh factors in their blood are called "Rh positive." People without these factors are called "Rh negative." Rh negative people form antibodies against Rh factor if they receive Rh positive blood. There are also other factors to identify blood cells, in addition to ABO and Rh. Blood that you receive in a transfusion must be compatible with your own blood. This means that your body does not have antibodies against the blood you receive. Most of the time, blood transfusion between compatible groups (such as O+ to O+) does not cause a problem. Blood transfusion between incompatible groups (such as A+ to O-) causes an immune response. This can lead to a serious transfusion reaction. The immune system attacks the donated blood cells, causing them to burst. Today, all blood is carefully screened. Transfusion reactions very rare.
A blood sample is needed and will be drawn from a vein. The test to determine your blood group is called ABO typing. Your blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood, and the sample is checked to see whether or not the blood cells stick together (agglutinate). If blood cells stick together, it means the blood reacted with one of the antibodies. The second step is called back typing. The liquid part of your blood without cells (serum) is mixed with blood that is known to be type A and type B. Persons with type A blood have anti-B antibodies, and those with type B blood have anti-A antibodies. Type O blood contains both types of antibodies. These two steps can accurately determine your blood type. Blood typing is also done to tell whether or not you have a substance called Rh factor on the surface of your red blood cells. If you have this substance, you are considered Rh+ (positive). Those without it are considered Rh- (negative). Rh typing uses a method similar to ABO typing.
Scientists are reporting an "important step" toward development of a universal blood product that would eliminate the need to "type" blood to match donor and recipient before transfusions. A report on the "immunocamouflage" technique, which hides blood cells from antibodies that could trigger a potentially fatal immune reaction that occurs when blood types do not match, appears in the ACS journal, Biomacromolecules. Maryam Tabrizian and colleagues note that blood transfusions require a correct match between a donor and the recipient's blood. This can be a tricky proposition given that there are 29 different red blood cells types, including the familiar ABO and Rh types. The wrong blood type can provoke serious immune reactions that result in organ failure or death, so scientists have long sought a way to create an all-purpose red blood cell for transfusions that doesn't rely on costly blood typing or donations of a specific blood type.
To develop this "universal" red blood cell, the scientists discovered a way to encase living, individual red blood cells within a multilayered polymer shell. The shell serves as a cloaking device, they found, making the cell invisible to a person's immune system and able to evade detection and rejection. Oxygen can still penetrate the polymer shell, however, so the red blood cells can carry on their main business of supplying oxygen to the body. "The results of this study mark an important step toward the production of universal RBCs," the study states. The authors acknowledge funding from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and FQRNT-Centre for Biorecognition and Biosensors.
The blood typing results showed that the blood on the FJ cruiser is the same as Mr. Peterson and Terrence Bond’s blood. Therefore we cannot conclude weather the blood on the FJ cruiser is Terrence’s or Mr. Peterson’s.
In the year 1900, Karl Landsteiner at the University of Vienna, discovered why some blood transfusions were successful while others could be deadly. Landsteiner discovered the ABO blood group system by mixing the red cells and serum of each of his staff. He demonstrated that the serum of some people agglutinated the red cells of other. From these early experiments, he identified three types, called A, B and C (C was later to be re-named O for the German “Ohne”, meaning “without”, or “Zero”, “null” in English). The fourth less frequent blood group AB, was discovered a year later. In 1930, Landsteiner received the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine for his work. As investigations have demonstrated on monkeys, human blood groups are very old genetic indicators which have evolved during several million years. Based on the primary races hypothesis, it was thought that in the three major races of man, blood groups A in Europe, B in Asian, and finally O in South America have been emerged and gradually due to the migration and mixing of the races, became the present situation. But we know that in each continent, the isolated populations are seen that have completely different blood groups. For example, there is relatively high prevalence of blood group O in Siberian inhabitants; also this blood group is very common in some areas of Switzerland.
Blood is classified into different blood types called A, B, AB, and O. Your immune system can usually tell its own blood cells from blood cells from those of another person. If other blood cells enter your body, your immune system may already have antibodies against them. These antibodies will work to destroy the blood cells that your immune system does not recognize. Another way blood cells may be classified is by Rh factors. People who have Rh factors in their blood are called "Rh positive." People without these factors are called "Rh negative." Rh negative people form antibodies against Rh factor if they receive Rh positive blood. There are also other factors to identify blood cells, in addition to ABO and Rh. Blood that you receive in a transfusion must be compatible with your own blood. This means that your body does not have antibodies against the blood you receive. Most of the time, blood transfusion between compatible groups (such as O+ to O+) does not cause a problem. Blood transfusion between incompatible groups (such as A+ to O-) causes an immune response. This can lead to a serious transfusion reaction. The immune system attacks the donated blood cells, causing them to burst. Today, all blood is carefully screened. Transfusion reactions very rare.
A blood sample is needed and will be drawn from a vein. The test to determine your blood group is called ABO typing. Your blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood, and the sample is checked to see whether or not the blood cells stick together (agglutinate). If blood cells stick together, it means the blood reacted with one of the antibodies. The second step is called back typing. The liquid part of your blood without cells (serum) is mixed with blood that is known to be type A and type B. Persons with type A blood have anti-B antibodies, and those with type B blood have anti-A antibodies. Type O blood contains both types of antibodies. These two steps can accurately determine your blood type. Blood typing is also done to tell whether or not you have a substance called Rh factor on the surface of your red blood cells. If you have this substance, you are considered Rh+ (positive). Those without it are considered Rh- (negative). Rh typing uses a method similar to ABO typing.
Scientists are reporting an "important step" toward development of a universal blood product that would eliminate the need to "type" blood to match donor and recipient before transfusions. A report on the "immunocamouflage" technique, which hides blood cells from antibodies that could trigger a potentially fatal immune reaction that occurs when blood types do not match, appears in the ACS journal, Biomacromolecules. Maryam Tabrizian and colleagues note that blood transfusions require a correct match between a donor and the recipient's blood. This can be a tricky proposition given that there are 29 different red blood cells types, including the familiar ABO and Rh types. The wrong blood type can provoke serious immune reactions that result in organ failure or death, so scientists have long sought a way to create an all-purpose red blood cell for transfusions that doesn't rely on costly blood typing or donations of a specific blood type.
To develop this "universal" red blood cell, the scientists discovered a way to encase living, individual red blood cells within a multilayered polymer shell. The shell serves as a cloaking device, they found, making the cell invisible to a person's immune system and able to evade detection and rejection. Oxygen can still penetrate the polymer shell, however, so the red blood cells can carry on their main business of supplying oxygen to the body. "The results of this study mark an important step toward the production of universal RBCs," the study states. The authors acknowledge funding from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and FQRNT-Centre for Biorecognition and Biosensors.
The blood typing results showed that the blood on the FJ cruiser is the same as Mr. Peterson and Terrence Bond’s blood. Therefore we cannot conclude weather the blood on the FJ cruiser is Terrence’s or Mr. Peterson’s.
Forensic Entomology
Forensic Entomology
Historically, there have been several accounts of applications for, and experimentation with, forensic entomology. The concept of forensic entomology dates back to at least the 14th century. However, only in the last 30 years has forensic entomology been systematically explored as a feasible source for evidence in criminal investigations. Through their own experiments and interest in arthropods and death, Song Ci, Francesco Redi, Bergeret d’Arbois, Jean Pierre Mégninand the German doctor Hermann Reinhard have helped to lay the foundations for today's forensic entomology.
Forensic Entomology is the use of the insects, and their arthropod relatives that inhabit decomposing remains to aid legal investigations. The broad field of forensic entomology is commonly broken down into three general areas: medicolegal, urban, and stored product pests. A basic knowledge of the general appearance of insect of forensic importance, and a basic understanding of the proper methods for their collection, will allow investigators to make accurate and representative collections from the death scene. Enhanced knowledge on the behalf of law enforcement officials will provide for better communication between police, medical examiners, and forensic entomologists.
Insects arrive on a corpse in a predictable sequence depending on stages of decomposition. This is called faunal succession. Forensic entomologists study this process to aid legal investigations. Primarily, forensic entomologists are employed by crime investigators to determine the time of death of a person. Time of death is estimated as the post mortem interval (PMI). Environmental factors that affect succession include: season (daily temperatures), sun exposure, whether the body was found inside a building, immersed in water or in urban vs. rural area. Bodies that are buried, left in vehicles, found in enclosed spaces, hanged or burnt are also subject to varying insect succession patterns.
Types of Bugs:
Blow flies in this family are often metallic in appearance and between 10 to 14 mm in length. In addition to the name blow-fly, some members of this family are known as blue bottle fly, cluster fly, greenbottles, or black blowfly. A characteristic of the blow-fly is its 3-segmented antennae. Hatching from an egg to the first larval stage takes from eight hours to one day. Larvae have three stages of development (called instars); each stage is separated by a molting event. Worldwide, there are 1100 known species of blowflies, with 228 species in the Neotropics, and a large number of species in Africa and Southern Europe. The most common area to find Calliphoridae species are in the countries of India, Japan, Central America, and in the southern United States. The typical habitat for blow-flies are temperate to tropical areas that provide a layer of loose, damp soil and litter where larvae may thrive and pupate. The forensic importance of this fly is that it is the first insect to come in contact with carrion because they have the ability to smell death from up to ten miles (16 km) away.
Flesh flies Most flesh flies breed in carrion, dung, garbage, or decaying material, but a few species lay their eggs in the open wounds of mammals; hence their common name. Characteristics of the flesh-fly is its 3-segmented antennae. Most holarctic Sarcophagidae vary in size from 4 to 18 mm in length (Tropical species can be larger) with black and gray longitudinal stripes on the thorax and checkering on the abdomen. Flesh-flies, being viviparous, frequently give birth to live young on corpses of human and other animals, at any stage of decomposition, from newly dead through to bloated or decaying (though the latter is more common).
House fly is the most common of all flies found in homes, and indeed one of the most widely distributed insects; it is often considered a pest that can carry serious diseases. The adults are 6–9 mm long. Their thorax is gray, with four longitudinal dark lines on the back. The underside of their abdomen is yellow, and their whole body is covered with hair. Each female fly can lay up to 500 eggs in several batches of about 75 to 150 eggs. Genus Hydrotaea are of particular forensic importance.
Cheese flies – Family Piophilidae - Most are scavengers in animal products and fungi. The best-known member of the family is Piophila casei. It is a small fly, about four mm (1/6 inch) long, found worldwide. This fly's larva infests cured meats, smoked fish, cheeses, and decaying animals and is sometimes called the cheese skipper for its leaping ability. Forensic entomology uses the presence of Piophila casei larvae to help estimate the date of death for human remains. They do not take up residence in a corpse until three to six months after death. The adult fly's body is black, blue-black, or bronze, with some yellow on the head, antennae, and legs. The wings are faintly iridescent and lie flat upon the fly's abdomenwhen at rest. At four mm (1/6 inch) long, the fly is one-third to one-half as long as the common housefly.
Coffin flies
Lesser corpse flies
Lesser house flies
Black scavenger flies
Sun flies
Black soldier fly have potential for use in forensic entomology. The larvae are common scavengers in compost heaps, are found in association with carrion, can be destructive pests in honey bee hives, and are used in manure management (for both house fly control and reduction in manure volume). The larvae range in size from 1/8 to 3/4 of an inch (3 to 19 millimeters). The adult fly is a mimic, very close in size, color, and appearance to the organ pipe mud dauber wasp and its relatives.
Humpbacked flies Larvae feed on decaying bodies. Some species can burrow to a depth of 50 cm over 4 days. Important in buried bodies.
Rove beetles are elongate beetles with small elytra (wing covers) and large jaws. Like other beetles inhabiting carrion, they have fast larval development with only three larval stages. Creophilus species are common predators of carrion, and since they are large, are a very visible component of the fauna of corpses. Some adult Staphylinidae are early visitors to a corpse, feeding on larvae of all species of fly, including the later predatory fly larvae. They lay their eggs in the corpse, and the emerging larvae are also predators. Some species have a long development time in the egg, and are common only during the later stages of decomposition. Staphylinids can also tear open the pupal cases of flies, to sustain themselves at a corpse for long periods.
Hister beetles Adult histerids are usually shiny beetles (black or metallic-green) which have an introverted head. The carrion-feeding species only become active at night when they enter the maggot-infested part of the corpse to capture and devour their maggot prey. During daylight they hide under the corpse unless it is sufficiently decayed to enable them to hide inside it. They have fast larval development with only two larval stages. Among the first beetles to arrive at a corpse are Histeridae of the genus Saprinus. Saprinus adults feed on both the larvae and pupae of blowflies, although some have a preference for fresh pupae. The adults lay their eggs in the corpse, inhabiting it in the later stages of decay.
Carrion beetles Adult Silphidae have an average size of about 12 mm. They are also referred to as burying beetles because they dig and bury small carcasses underground.[14] Both parents tend to their young and exhibit communial breeding. The male carrion beetle's job in care is to provide protection for the breed and carcass from competitors.
Ham beetles
Carcass beetles
Skin/hide beetles Hide beetles are important in the final stages of decomposition of a carcass. The adults and larvae feed on the dried skin, tendons and bone left by fly larvae. Hide beetles are the only beetle with the enzymes necessary for breaking down keratin, a protein component of hair.
Scarab beetles Scarab beetles may be any one of around 30,000 beetle species worldwide that are compact, heavy-bodied and oval in shape. The flattened plates, which each antenna terminates, are fitted together to form a club. The outer edges of the front legs may also be toothed or scalloped. Scarab beetles range from 0.2 to 4.8 in (5.1 to 121.9 mm) in length. These species are known for being one of the heaviest insect species.[15]
Sap beetles
Many mites feed on corpses with Macrocheles mites common in the early stages of decomposition, while Tyroglyphidae and Oribatidae mites such as Rostrozetes feed on dry skin in the later stages of decomposition.
Moths specifically clothes moths are closely related to butterflies. Most species of moth are nocturnal, but there are crepuscular and diurnal species. Moths feed on mammalian hair during their larval stages and may forage on any hair that remains on a body. They are amongst the final animals contributing to the decomposition of a corpse.
Wasps, ants, and bees are not necessarily necrophagous. While some feed on the body, some are also predatory, and eat the insects feeding on the body. Bees and wasps have been seen feeding on the body during the early stages. This may cause problems for murder cases in which larval flies are used to estimate the post mortem interval since eggs and larvae on the body may have been consumed prior to the arrival on scene of investigators.
The victim (Terrence Bond) was dead for 48 hours before the body was found. The average temperature outside was 23.3 degrees Celsius.
Historically, there have been several accounts of applications for, and experimentation with, forensic entomology. The concept of forensic entomology dates back to at least the 14th century. However, only in the last 30 years has forensic entomology been systematically explored as a feasible source for evidence in criminal investigations. Through their own experiments and interest in arthropods and death, Song Ci, Francesco Redi, Bergeret d’Arbois, Jean Pierre Mégninand the German doctor Hermann Reinhard have helped to lay the foundations for today's forensic entomology.
Forensic Entomology is the use of the insects, and their arthropod relatives that inhabit decomposing remains to aid legal investigations. The broad field of forensic entomology is commonly broken down into three general areas: medicolegal, urban, and stored product pests. A basic knowledge of the general appearance of insect of forensic importance, and a basic understanding of the proper methods for their collection, will allow investigators to make accurate and representative collections from the death scene. Enhanced knowledge on the behalf of law enforcement officials will provide for better communication between police, medical examiners, and forensic entomologists.
Insects arrive on a corpse in a predictable sequence depending on stages of decomposition. This is called faunal succession. Forensic entomologists study this process to aid legal investigations. Primarily, forensic entomologists are employed by crime investigators to determine the time of death of a person. Time of death is estimated as the post mortem interval (PMI). Environmental factors that affect succession include: season (daily temperatures), sun exposure, whether the body was found inside a building, immersed in water or in urban vs. rural area. Bodies that are buried, left in vehicles, found in enclosed spaces, hanged or burnt are also subject to varying insect succession patterns.
Types of Bugs:
Blow flies in this family are often metallic in appearance and between 10 to 14 mm in length. In addition to the name blow-fly, some members of this family are known as blue bottle fly, cluster fly, greenbottles, or black blowfly. A characteristic of the blow-fly is its 3-segmented antennae. Hatching from an egg to the first larval stage takes from eight hours to one day. Larvae have three stages of development (called instars); each stage is separated by a molting event. Worldwide, there are 1100 known species of blowflies, with 228 species in the Neotropics, and a large number of species in Africa and Southern Europe. The most common area to find Calliphoridae species are in the countries of India, Japan, Central America, and in the southern United States. The typical habitat for blow-flies are temperate to tropical areas that provide a layer of loose, damp soil and litter where larvae may thrive and pupate. The forensic importance of this fly is that it is the first insect to come in contact with carrion because they have the ability to smell death from up to ten miles (16 km) away.
Flesh flies Most flesh flies breed in carrion, dung, garbage, or decaying material, but a few species lay their eggs in the open wounds of mammals; hence their common name. Characteristics of the flesh-fly is its 3-segmented antennae. Most holarctic Sarcophagidae vary in size from 4 to 18 mm in length (Tropical species can be larger) with black and gray longitudinal stripes on the thorax and checkering on the abdomen. Flesh-flies, being viviparous, frequently give birth to live young on corpses of human and other animals, at any stage of decomposition, from newly dead through to bloated or decaying (though the latter is more common).
House fly is the most common of all flies found in homes, and indeed one of the most widely distributed insects; it is often considered a pest that can carry serious diseases. The adults are 6–9 mm long. Their thorax is gray, with four longitudinal dark lines on the back. The underside of their abdomen is yellow, and their whole body is covered with hair. Each female fly can lay up to 500 eggs in several batches of about 75 to 150 eggs. Genus Hydrotaea are of particular forensic importance.
Cheese flies – Family Piophilidae - Most are scavengers in animal products and fungi. The best-known member of the family is Piophila casei. It is a small fly, about four mm (1/6 inch) long, found worldwide. This fly's larva infests cured meats, smoked fish, cheeses, and decaying animals and is sometimes called the cheese skipper for its leaping ability. Forensic entomology uses the presence of Piophila casei larvae to help estimate the date of death for human remains. They do not take up residence in a corpse until three to six months after death. The adult fly's body is black, blue-black, or bronze, with some yellow on the head, antennae, and legs. The wings are faintly iridescent and lie flat upon the fly's abdomenwhen at rest. At four mm (1/6 inch) long, the fly is one-third to one-half as long as the common housefly.
Coffin flies
Lesser corpse flies
Lesser house flies
Black scavenger flies
Sun flies
Black soldier fly have potential for use in forensic entomology. The larvae are common scavengers in compost heaps, are found in association with carrion, can be destructive pests in honey bee hives, and are used in manure management (for both house fly control and reduction in manure volume). The larvae range in size from 1/8 to 3/4 of an inch (3 to 19 millimeters). The adult fly is a mimic, very close in size, color, and appearance to the organ pipe mud dauber wasp and its relatives.
Humpbacked flies Larvae feed on decaying bodies. Some species can burrow to a depth of 50 cm over 4 days. Important in buried bodies.
Rove beetles are elongate beetles with small elytra (wing covers) and large jaws. Like other beetles inhabiting carrion, they have fast larval development with only three larval stages. Creophilus species are common predators of carrion, and since they are large, are a very visible component of the fauna of corpses. Some adult Staphylinidae are early visitors to a corpse, feeding on larvae of all species of fly, including the later predatory fly larvae. They lay their eggs in the corpse, and the emerging larvae are also predators. Some species have a long development time in the egg, and are common only during the later stages of decomposition. Staphylinids can also tear open the pupal cases of flies, to sustain themselves at a corpse for long periods.
Hister beetles Adult histerids are usually shiny beetles (black or metallic-green) which have an introverted head. The carrion-feeding species only become active at night when they enter the maggot-infested part of the corpse to capture and devour their maggot prey. During daylight they hide under the corpse unless it is sufficiently decayed to enable them to hide inside it. They have fast larval development with only two larval stages. Among the first beetles to arrive at a corpse are Histeridae of the genus Saprinus. Saprinus adults feed on both the larvae and pupae of blowflies, although some have a preference for fresh pupae. The adults lay their eggs in the corpse, inhabiting it in the later stages of decay.
Carrion beetles Adult Silphidae have an average size of about 12 mm. They are also referred to as burying beetles because they dig and bury small carcasses underground.[14] Both parents tend to their young and exhibit communial breeding. The male carrion beetle's job in care is to provide protection for the breed and carcass from competitors.
Ham beetles
Carcass beetles
Skin/hide beetles Hide beetles are important in the final stages of decomposition of a carcass. The adults and larvae feed on the dried skin, tendons and bone left by fly larvae. Hide beetles are the only beetle with the enzymes necessary for breaking down keratin, a protein component of hair.
Scarab beetles Scarab beetles may be any one of around 30,000 beetle species worldwide that are compact, heavy-bodied and oval in shape. The flattened plates, which each antenna terminates, are fitted together to form a club. The outer edges of the front legs may also be toothed or scalloped. Scarab beetles range from 0.2 to 4.8 in (5.1 to 121.9 mm) in length. These species are known for being one of the heaviest insect species.[15]
Sap beetles
Many mites feed on corpses with Macrocheles mites common in the early stages of decomposition, while Tyroglyphidae and Oribatidae mites such as Rostrozetes feed on dry skin in the later stages of decomposition.
Moths specifically clothes moths are closely related to butterflies. Most species of moth are nocturnal, but there are crepuscular and diurnal species. Moths feed on mammalian hair during their larval stages and may forage on any hair that remains on a body. They are amongst the final animals contributing to the decomposition of a corpse.
Wasps, ants, and bees are not necessarily necrophagous. While some feed on the body, some are also predatory, and eat the insects feeding on the body. Bees and wasps have been seen feeding on the body during the early stages. This may cause problems for murder cases in which larval flies are used to estimate the post mortem interval since eggs and larvae on the body may have been consumed prior to the arrival on scene of investigators.
The victim (Terrence Bond) was dead for 48 hours before the body was found. The average temperature outside was 23.3 degrees Celsius.