Forensic Entomology - A Guide to Post-Mortem Interval Aggarwal A.D. Dr.1, Gorea R.K. Dr.2, Aggarwal O.P. Dr.3, Singh Devinder Dr.4 1Junior Resident Deptt. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Patiala (INDIA) 2Professor & Head Deptt. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Patiala (INDIA) 3Additional Professor Deptt. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Patiala (INDIA) 4Reader Deptt. of Zoology, Punjabi University, Patiala (INDIA) Abstract Since many insects are associated with the human body after death, they are always a potential source of evidence in case of murders or suspicious deaths. They are also potentially useful as evidence in situations other than murder cases. Despite this great potential, however, the field of forensic entomology remains obscure in our country, largely because of lack of awareness of the benefits that may accrue from its application and hesitation on the part of others to do a proper post-mortem examination in cases infested with maggots. Some questions that may be answered using forensic entomological techniques include time, place, and cause of death; when burial occurred; how long a body remained submerged under water; and when the body was placed in a certain given spot. This study involves the application of forensic entomology for crime scene investigations based on the use of insect evidence in determining post-mortem interval. This study involves examination of the insects involved in the decay of corpses, the collection of insect evidence and its use in predicting the post-mortem interval. In this ongoing study more than twenty cases have been studied so far. Interesting and valuable findings of this study are being presented in this paper. Top Keywords Forensic entomology, Post-mortem interval, Entomology, Maggots, Larvae, Insects, Flies. Top |