Medicolegal Entomology(ME) is a field of Forensic Entomology that also includes Urban and Stored Product Entomology. Medicolegal application of the insects associated with human corpse has a long history tracing the first documentation in 12
century
China although ME has been focused rather recently by more scientists.
In ME, most important evidences for medicocriminal clues are to obtain the good condition of the insect samples found on cadavers with detailed information of the environment. The samples can be a clear forensic indicators establishing the place
as
well
as the time of death. Cadaver entomofauna (OF) is under investigation but the interim result provides a stimulating possibility of practicing ME in the field. Amongst various CE, Diptera (Flies), Coleoptera(beetles) and Dermaptera(earwigs) are
most
important groups that are useful respectively to set up the time of death in a short period with 12 days, to do a longer period of monthly interval, and to trace the place of death. In particular, Dermapteran sepcies are well established for
their
adaptive chararteristics in distribution and habitats ; Anisolabis maritima (Bonelli) indicating that the corpe was laid at coastal environment, Euborellia annuliper Lucas around human residence, Labidura riparia japonica (De Haan) strongly
implying in
connection with the sandy environment near river or stream, Anechura japonica(Bormans) and Forficula scudderi (Bormans) usually found in mountain, and F. Vicaria (Sermenov) in deep forest. The other species that could be the forensic indicator of
buried
and aquatic environment are under investigation.
However, ME in Korea is only the very beginning stage but the prospect is not quite promising. One serious reason is due to insufficient number of insect specialists including taxonomists, ecologists and physiologists who may provide fundamental
information on the insects. The other is due to absence of basic knowledge on ME among criminal investigators and forensic workers, and also due to lack of cooperative attitude of on-site workers in collecting insects on cadavers.
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