Dead men tell no tales, but insects do: Role of forensic entomologists in criminal and civil litigation

Forensic entomology involves the utilization of insect behavior, biology, and ecology to answer legal questions. There are currently three subsections of Forensic Entomology: Urban, Stored Product, and Medicolegal. This presentation will discuss how insects can be used in medicolegal cases of human and non-human neglect, abuse, and death. Attendees will learn about the various uses of insects within this context and develop an understanding of how necrophagous insects aid forensic investigators and what case reports include. Attendees will also learn about an emerging field of environmental forensic entomology, involving necrophagous arthropods in surveillance of toxins in the environment. At the conclusion, attendees will learn about how to become a Medicolegal Forensic Entomologist and pathways to certifications available in the United States and Canada.