The Buzz on Forensic Entomology: Lecture Reveals Insects’ Role in Solving Crimes
DITSONG: Museums of South Africa will be hosting a public lecture on forensic entomology: ‘How insects can help us solve real crimes’. This field applies insect science to legal investigations, primarily to estimate the time of death (post-mortem interval) in criminal cases.
By analysing the developmental stages of insects – particularly flies and beetles – found on decomposing bodies, forensic entomologists provide crucial insights that help determine the time of death. They play a crucial role in identifying cases of neglect, abuse, or environmental crime by analysing insect activity on living or deceased victims, making forensic entomology an essential tool in modern forensic science.
The lecture will take place on 12 September 2024 at 18:00 at DITSONG: National Museum of Natural History, 432 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria. The DITSONG: National Museum of Natural History is a custodian of South Africa’s natural heritage.
The Museum’s collections and exhibits feature hominid fossils from the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, and associated fauna, including Mrs Ples (the nickname attributed to a fossil skull believed to represent a distant relative of all humankind).
The collections also include fossils, skeletons, skins and mounted specimens of amphibians, fish, invertebrates, reptiles and mammals. The Museum houses an extensive collection of southern African beetles. It boasts the world’s largest representation of South Africa’s birds and herpetology, as well as the largest collection of moths and butterflies in Africa.
