This document discusses the stages of decomposition that occur with a dead body over time, as well as factors that can affect the decay process. It begins with anaerobic bacteria breaking down tissues, followed by blowflies and beetles laying eggs which hatch into maggots that feed on the body. Later stages involve other insects like cheese flies, coffin flies, and beetles as the body dries out. Forensic entomology uses the insect evidence to estimate time of death based on what species are present and their lifecycle stages.
2. Stages of succession on a dead body Anaerobic bacteria Blowflies Beetles Parasitic wasps Cheese flies and coffin flies Carcass beetles, ham beetles and hide beetles Mites and moth larvae
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4. Stages of succession on a dead body Colonisers: Anaerobic bacteria (do not need oxygen and thrive in the lactic acid-rich environment of the muscles after death) are the first colonisers. These bacteria are found in small areas of a living body such as gut. After death these bacteria spread to other parts of the body as enzymes break down cells.
5. FLIES Blowflies: These insects are extremely sensitive to the smell of dead organisms, and can arrive on a body within minutes of death. They are attracted to the moisture and smell around all the natural openings of the body, as well as any open wounds. At first, the main attraction of the body is as a site on which to lay eggs. The maggots hatch and immediately begin feeding on the tissues, breaking them down. Eventually the maggots pupate, turn into flies and immediately mate and start the cycle again. As the soft tissues of the body liquefy, adult flies can feed on this too.
6. Beetles: Beetles also start to lay eggs on the carcass, as their larvae feed on maggots rather than eat the body itself. Parasitic Wasps: Parasitic wasps arrive to lay their eggs in the fly and beetle larvae. Gradually, as the body is digested it also dries out, which does not suit the early colonisers.
7. Late Colonisers Different species such as the cheese flies and coffin flies move in. Eventually the body is too dry for maggots. A number of beetle species with strong, chewing mouth parts move in. These include carcass beetles, ham beetles and hide beetles, which feed on the remains of the muscles and the connective tissues. At the very end, mites and moth larvae will feed on the hair until only dry bones are left.
8. Factors affecting decay Temperature The warmer the body the faster the rate of decay. Chemical reactions speed up as the temperature increases. A body kept in very cold conditions will decay slowly Location Buried bodies decompose slowly than bodies left in the open air This is because the body not available for flies and other decomposers found in the open air. Temperature of the underground will be lower and more stable. A body hidden in a house will decompose slower compared to one outside.
10. Study of insects help forensic entomologists to estimate the time of death and even cause of death. If a body is found in the open field without any blowfly activity, the scientist will have an idea that it is a recent death (less than 24 hours, as the blowflies often find bodies within minutes of death) The flies lay their eggs around openings of the body. They also lay eggs around wounds in the body, and an abundance of larvae at locations of the body where normal openings are absent indicate wounds and thus cause of death.
11. The time taken for the blowfly life cycle to be completed depends on the temperature. In colder weather the maggots grow more slowly.
12. Forensic entomology Body discovered Eggs, maggots and pupae are collected Live specimens collected are allowed to grow (these are used for identification) Compare with standard lifecycle of flies at different temperatures Time of death calculated
