Today’s fieldwork brought me into contact with the grittier side of entomology — forensic entomology.
When a body decomposes, the first to arrive aren’t detectives, but blowflies. These metallic green insects lay eggs within hours. Their larvae — maggots — develop at predictable rates, allowing experts to estimate time of death.
Each insect species arrives in waves. Blowflies, then flesh flies, then beetles. The presence or absence of each offers clues about the crime scene — even if the body was moved.
A tiny maggot under a microscope becomes a timeline.
A pupae casing can speak louder than a witness.
Insects don’t lie. They act on instinct — and they leave a record.
I left the scene reminded that no creature is too small to matter in the pursuit of truth.
Next episode: insect-inspired robotics — technology takes flight. 🚁🦗🤖
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