Entomology lab reflection essay

Throughout a few weeks in September 2014, as a class the advanced forensics class observed the different changes a pig shoulder underwent when placed in the open; including which insects were found and the changes in appearance of the pig shoulder. The goal was to analyze the decomposition of this pig shoulder, by using entomology. 

As we continued to go outside and view the pig shoulder, it was very noticeable that decomposition was occurring rather normally. For the first few days, besides different insects being present there were no real signs of decomposition occurring. The pig shoulder appeared to be the same as it had been when put on the ground. However around September 10th the meat was starting to dry out as insects began covering it and eating at the flesh. Eventually the flesh in some parts of the shoulder were getting eaten completely By September 14th the shoulder was fully starting to decompose and was growing smaller which is a clear sign of decomposition taking place. Over time the shoulder began to change colors in certain spots, lost flesh, and overall grew smaller; showing exactly what we were looking for. Insects were found all over the pig shoulders as early as the first day we placed the shoulder on the ground, and the major insects found were common flies, maggots and bee's. Some of the maggots were even collected to examine. 

Although not every single piece of information needed to determine the PMI and ADH was collected, enough was so that an assumption could be made which is what happens in most realistic cases. By studying the results we collected on the various days, it was easy to see that everything was taken pretty accurately. Compared to the published data, my results were very similar. As the days went on, the temperature of the pig shoulder decreased as is shown in the published data table. The developmental stages of the insects depends on the amount of hours since the death and so when we collected the maggots it was clear that they werent very far developed which helped show the PMI wasn't very long ago; which was accurate. Considering the data collected in my own notes was very similar to that in the published data, it can be assumed it was pretty accurate. 

Although not every single case can use it, entomology can be extremely useful in murder cases. By seeing which insects are found on a body, and by figuring out which developmental stage these insects are an entomologist can actually figure out when the person was killed. Some cases would go forever unsolved if forensic entomologists werent there to help out. Insects provide accurate information, and should be used as more as a crime solving tool in the world. Too many cases are never solved because bodies were left unnoticed for large amounts of time and when finally found nobody is able to figure out when the person died and therefore the case is almost just tossed aside for more recent ones. By using entomology as a legitimate crime solving tool crimes can be solved, the deceased can have justice and criminals if still alive can finally get what they deserve.

The entomology lab that my class completed showed exactly how important insects actually are to a crime. They aren't the most pleasant thing to look at, but insects such as maggots can actually provide a ton of information for investigators. Bugs are found on every single decomposing body unless certain factors alter it for some reason, and these bugs can always provide when the person died as long as the information is read correctly. Crimes are being solved because of bugs, and this lab just goes to show exactly how much of an impact entomology actually has on forensics. 

Lab Reflection

     Over the course of the experiment, we observed the decomposition within the pork shoulder. Over the time, the first change we saw was on September 10th where it began to dry out and look like leather. The next change we saw was the 15th where bone was beginning to show and it turned into a tight over layer of skin. From then on out, the meat kept decaying into, for all we know now, a skeleton.

     The specific data and observations we collected were that the physical decaying appearance and the insects that were attracted. After the first day it was out, it looked like leather and had many insects around it, such as, flies, wasps, maggots and small larve. From then the insects pretty much stayed the same and the meat just began to disappear.

     With comparing my results with the published data, it came out pretty accurate. Where my data wasn't consistent was when we didn't record enough data that day to determine certain things in the end. From the PMI and ADD chart that we made to figure out the time of death, we had to mess around with it a couple of times because the data that I had, again, wasn't quite accurate. Overall, in the end, the data did help find out the time we put the pig shoulder outside.

     From what I have learned with this lab, I really do believe now that Forensic Entomology has a large value as a crime solving tool. With learning how to calculate it and really doing our own lab or crime, it really showed how entomologists do their job. Entomology can be very critical to a case where there is no other evidence other then flies and maggots. For example, Dr. Neal Haskell has his life based on Forensic Entomology and he does it the best. He is called into famous cases to determine the time of death because that may be the only way someone can be accused guilty for a crime.

Pig Shoulder Observations

This lab began simply with a fleshy pig shoulder but progressed into a great hands on lesson about decomposition. Day one held no surprising occurrences, while day two immediately showed signs of a decomposing change. Certain variables such as location and the temperature of the environment remained very similar if not the same. These constants ensured the data wasn't skewed. Physical changes such as size, color, and smell were collected and noted each day. The meat started off as a bloody red color and then obtained a green tinged look. Larvae and maggots began appearing and soon multiplied, using the deceased pig as their host. 
Entomology is a great tool to use when trying to determine how old a corpse is. Certain bugs and other organisms appear at different times. This forms a time frame for the investigators to figure out just when exactly the victim died.
-Justine

Entomology Lab Reflection Prompt

Lab Reflection Prompt:
   1. Describe the decomposition process as you observed over the course of the experiment.
   2. Discuss the specific changes you observed and the data you collected.
   3. Compare your developmental data with the published data.  Where your results consistent with
        the published data?  Explain.
   4. Discuss the value of Forensic Entomology as a crime solving tool.
Due Wednesday 10/1/14

Observations

On the first day we put a fresh pork shoulder outside of the school, and as soon as we did we started noticing flies already showing up. We covered the pork shoulder to prevent wild animals from taking it or moving it. After a few days, we went back and there were not only flies but wasps and bees present as well. A couple of days after that, we started to see maggots all around and inside the pork shoulder. The smell was nauseating and there was maggot "poop" all underneath it. The shoulder also started to look like leather and as the days went by you could see more and more of the bone.

Obervation by Kenzie

The first day we started the experiment the pork shoulder looked like a normal prom shoulder.  As the days started going by the pork shoulder started decomposing more or more each day, getting dry and looking like leather. While it was decomposing there were many different insects that were present , for example flies, maggots, and bees. All these different insects fed on the meet especially the maggots which went through stages of Instar which we collected as part of our experiment.

Maggot Movement by Paola Ginel

Link to Inquiry Lab Temperature Data

Observations

Over the past two weeks, we have watched a pork shoulder decompose. First, to start off with, we placed the pork shoulder in front of the school and covered it so no outside animals could get inside and tamper with it. Almost immediately after we placed it here, it began to attract flies to it. A few days later we went outside to make more observations and saw that maggots had already began to develop and crawl around on the shoulder, as well as bees, and flies being present as well. We placed the thermometer in it to take the temperature and record any change, and it was during this process that we realized it had begun to smell. We went back outside a day or two later and it began to smell very badly, again we took pictures both close up and from a distance, and collected maggot from the shoulder to analyze. The shoulder at this point had become very hard and rough, almost like leather. 

-Zack

Observations

During the last 2 weeks we have planted some maggot seeds aka a pigs shoulders and we watched it deteriorate into some gross smelly looking leather. Day by day the pigs shoulders smelt and was infested with maggots, flies, bees etc. During last week we noticed the maggots starting to leave the pigs shoulder and the skin started to turn blackish and leathery. We also saw a dead rat and yeah.
-Justine

Observations

On the first day we took a pork shoulder and placed it on the ground in front of the school. Almost immediately flies started to come and gather by it. After a few days we came to check on it again and could see maggot eggs, flies, and wasps on it and on that day we put the thermometer. Then the third day that we went to see it it started to smell and we could see the maggots and collected maggots as samples. By this time the pork shoulder has gotten harder like leathery. The next day that we went we could see some of the maggots moving away from the shoulder and the smell got worst.

Observation

This all started on September 8th at 11:56am when we first placed the pork shoulder outside the front of the school. It was placed under trees in a clear area with just a little of sunlight around the shrubbery. The shoulder was fresh at the time but with time slowly started to rot. On day 2 it had dried up and looked leathery the temperature of the shoulder was at 23 degree Celsius and the temperature in the air was 73 degree their where flies, wasps, maggots, inside larva, hairy maggots, blowflies, green body flies and sheep flies.September 12th the temperature was 68 degrees the shoulder was shrinking, bluish green color and it was slowly starting to decompose their was a rat present and also maggots. Days later on September 17 the shoulder was black and had rotting holes all over, their was pupa present also maggots, flies and maggots deep inside the shoulder.

Observation ; Alexys bergeron

Well the first day the pork shoulder looked like its normal self. As we put the pork into the hole and get it set up, flies already started to swarm it. After a few days it would start to rot and flies would lay maggots and bugs would roam the surface of it. After the maggots were laid they began to eat the meat and get bigger and such. After a few days, the meat looked and smelled disgusting. We collected some maggots too.

Observations

During the past few weeks, the pork shoulder went from a normal looking pork shoulder to a disgusting piece of meat, flys showed up immediately and within two days there qas 1st instar maggots, then the next time we went out it smelt really bad and the maggots had moved away from the body and they were huge, there was also wasps, and ants on the pork shoulder. The shoulder also dried out and looked completely different

Entomology Lab Observations

Leiandra Wilson

    When we first brought out the pork shoulder and set everything up flies were already attracted to the smell, blow flies especially and even a bee. The meat was a tannish pinkish color and the skin was still on it. The next day we went out for observation, more flies were present on the meat and maggot eggs were present. The skin had come off the meat making it a reddish color. There was even a dead rat at the scene. Each time we went out for observation something about the pork shoulder had changed. As the days went on it turned a dark red almost black color, the maggots grew and maggot masses were present. My fellow classmates had said it began to smell at the scene...thank god for stuffy noses! The last time we went out to check out the shoulder you could see the bone and the maggots were even larger. I am curious to see what will be seen the next time we go down to the scene.

Forensic entomology is the meaning of life

Flies and other insects are used to determine the PMI. Flies have 5 stages of life and while they're maggots they have 3 phases. I've learned that flesh flies deposit their eggs in open passages of the body like wounds or nasal passages. The holes on the spiracles indicate the phase that the maggot is in. The temperature also affects the rate of growth in maggots.

Spying on the Maggots

Essentially from the first moment the shoulder was placed flies started to appear almost instantly.  As we went to check the shoulder, more and more flies had came and went and left some maggots behind. The stench of the rotting decomposing shoulder had gradually worsened and was detectable from a good distance. Looking up close you could see that  the maggots wasted no time to feed on the rancid meat. They clustered in a maggot mass and left behind a secretion of enzymes which helped their feeding by breaking apart the meat. Eventually they got bigger and migrated away from the body and into the soil to pupatate.

Lab observation

During the past few weeks our class have been observating what happends to the body once is dead. In this case we put a pig shoulder on an open space behind our school covered with something so no animal can get access to it. When we first put the shoulder there some flies were attracted but nothing  big, as we let it sit there when we came back a day or two after there were already some maggots, and more flies, we grab some examples so we can test them later on.

Lab Observations

Over the last few weeks as a class we have all been observing the types of insects that were attracted to a dead pig shoulder over a certain amount of days. At first when we put the pig shoulder in a field behind our school flies were attracted to the meat before we even left the scene. Over the next few days maggots began to appear along with other insects such as bees, ants etc. The maggots grew larger and developed as the days went on and soon covered quite a bit of the pigs shoulder. Eventually they all migrated and soon were in only a certain portion of the shoulder. The observations I made over the last 2 weeks were seeing how as the days went on after leaving the pig shoulder on the ground, different insects were drawn to it or were developing.

Lab Observations

Over the past weeks, there has been dramatic changes to the pork shoulder. Due to the weather and natural processes, we saw many stages of instar and other insects interact with the substance. During the first week we saw many flies and bees around the meat. The next week, we saw some maggots and other insects. Finally, at the end of week three, we saw some pupa and decaying meat. Over the weeks, the smell has stayed the same and the weather had been pretty consistent so no other elements could have a role in the decaying part.

Maggots Party

Maggots, Maggots Everywhere

Blow flies lay eggs in warm moist areas of the body .

-signed by ant medo

Entomology

The first time they ever used entomology was in 1235 AD when there was a slashing murder and the investigators made all farmers put their sickles out in their front lawn and one was found with flesh which attracted blow flies and therefore showed who the murderer was

Migrating maggots

Migrating 3rd instar maggots

The study

Forensic entomology is the study of insects.

Entomology

Maggots help you figure out the postmortem interval

Entomology

The Blow flies life cycle is very predictable and can help identify how long a body was at the scene or how long it has been dead that is called Postmordom-interval (PMI)

Entomology is awesomee

We need to go see this crusty pig shoulder tomorrow!

Flesh flies

Flesh flies do not lay eggs, but instead deposit larvae onto remains due to its open mouth.

Flesh flies don't lay eggs they lay larve

entomology is so cool.

Entomology changed my life, thanks Ms. Connor

entomology is the studies of insects feeding on dead bodies and thier life cycle

A shoulder to lean on

Forensic Entomology

PMI is post mortem interval and you use PMI to find the time elapsed since death. 

Welcome to our Blog

This is the blog for the Advanced Forensics Class of 2014 - 2015.
We will be spending the year exploring topics in Forensic Science.  This will be a blog by you, for you. It is my hope that throughout the course of the year, through your posts and your comments on other posts, that you will have a valuable resource to refer back to at anytime.  My expectation is that you use this blog to share what you know, and clarify what you don't.

Our first topic for the year:  Forensic Entomology