ISSN

2277 - 3282

e ISSN

2277 - 3290

Publisher

Journal of Science

FORENSIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EFFECT OF SEDATIVES ON THE LIFE CYCLE OF CALLIPHORIDAE AND SACROPHAGIDAE
Author / Afflication
Deepika Bhandari

Assistant Professor (Forensic Science), Institute of Forensic Science, Mumbai-400032, India.
Deepak Kaldhone

Assistant Professor (Forensic Science), Institute of Forensic Science, Mumbai-400032, India.
Swati Wavhal

Director, Institute of Forensic Science, Mumbai-400032, India.
Keywords
Forensic Entomology ,PMI ,Sedatives ,Metamorphosis ,
Abstract

Forensic entomology is a term applied to the use of entomological (insect) evidence in the court of law. The insects provide an accurate information regarding the time since death or Post Mortem Interval (PMI). Various insect groups populate a cadaver in succession. Crime scene cadavers are often found with toxic substances either ingested to commit suicide or administered to the person causing death. These toxic substances in or on the cadavers can be found and the feeding larvae will have an altered rate of development. This study involves the effect of the toxins present in the cadaver affecting the developmental stages of two necrophagus species of flies viz. (Calliphoridae, Sacrophagidae). The sedatives chosen for the study were Clonazepam and Diazepam as they are commonly used in the act of committing suicide. Larvae were fed on liver spiked with various concentrations of the drugs and a comparison was made with the control samples (having no drugs). Changes were observed in duration of metamorphosis and emergence. This time variation indicates a need to factor in a correction in establishing PMI.

Volume / Issue / Year

5 , 1 , 2015

Starting Page No / Endling Page No

9 - 12