Explain how the presence of certain insects can help a forensic entomologist to estimate the time of death

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer should include points such as the following:
Within 24 hours, blowflies will infest the body and lay eggs that will hatch into fly larvae. Forensic entomologists can approximate how long a body has been left exposed by examining the stage of development of the fly larvae.
Newly emerged flies are of important forensic interest, because they indicate that an entire blowfly cycle has been completed on the decomposing body. Likewise, empty pupal cases indicate that a fly has completed its entire life cycle on the body.
Flies known as cheese skippers are primarily found on human corpses in the later stages of decomposition long after the blowflies have left the corpse.
Information about the arrival of other species of insects may also help determine the postmortem interval. Necrophilious insects arrive first, followed by predator insects, omnivorous insects, and finally indigenous insects.