Bugs and Bodies: The Role of Insects in Crime Scene Investigations
This course is designed to explore the various ways that insects and related arthropods can and have been used as evidence in a court of law, and how they can assist in solving crimes of different types.
What's included
8 live meetings
8 in-class hoursMastery Evaluation
1 hour per week. Perhaps an optional reading on forensic entomology articlesCertificate of Completion
I will offer a certificate of completion at the end of the classClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
This course is designed to explore the various ways that insects and related arthropods can and have been used as evidence in a court of law, and how they can assist in solving crimes. In this basic course, students will learn the history of forensic entomology, the basics of insect biology, succession and ecology, and an introduction to the different sub-disciplines of this field of forensic entomology, which are Stored Product Forensic Entomology, Urban Forensic Entomology and Medicolegal Forensic Entomology. A review of the major insect players used in assisting with crime scene investigations will be discussed. The course will also cover several actual cases and videos involved in all subdisciplines of forensic entomology, but particular emphasis will be on medicolegal forensic entomology which deals with arthropod involvement in events surrounding felonies, usually violent crimes resulting in death investigations. Some of my cases have been aired on The New Detectives, Forensic Files, Cold Case Files, Dateline, and The Fifth Estate. I have also taught FBI agents forensic entomology techniques at the University of Tennessee Human Body Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee. Selected videos of some of my cases on these programs will be shown and discussed with students in the class. My teaching style involves lecturing with the use of powerpoints to explain the major areas of forensic entomology and some videos from cases I have been involved in. Students will be allowed to ask questions about cases and problems they may have understanding concepts during the entire set of lectures and the class will be interactive in this way.
Learning Goals
Students will gain familiarity with the basic tenets of forensic entomology including the life cycle, growth, and development of certain organisms (e.g., insects) and consider how these organisms are affected by abiotic factors (e.g., temperature).
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction to Course and Background
Instructor Background, Introduction and Definition of Forensic Entomology, History of Forensic Entomology, Basis for Using Insects in Crime Scene Investigations 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Different Subdisciplines of Forensic Entomology. I
Different Subdisciplines of Forensic Entomology and examples of forensic cases in these 3 subdisciplines: Stored Product, Urban, and Medico-Legal. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Insect Development, Life Cycles and Cast of Players
Types of Insect Development, Cast of Players in Forensic Entomology and Sequence of Colonization, Life Cycles of Forensic Insects, and Stages of Decomposition. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Post Mortem Interval, Factors influencing insect growth and Intro to Cases
Post-Mortem Interval, Factors Influencing Insect Growth. Introduction to Terrestrial Medico-legal Forensic Case Histories Involving the use of Insects in Determining the Post Mortem Interval (PMI) 60 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This course will discuss all the sub-disciplines of forensic entomology, but a major part of the course will be discussing cases that I have been involved in dealing with death investigations and using insects in determining the time between death and corpse discovery. This is what detectives and police desire from a homicide. I have worked on over 40 homicide cases and testified in over 30 criminal trials involving death investigations. Several of my forensic cases have been aired on shows like "The New Detectives", "Forensic Files", "Dateline" and "Cold Case Files" to mention a few. I have also taught FBI agents forensic entomology techniques at the University of Tennessee Human Body Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee. Some of the videos from cases that I have worked on will be shown to the students and a few will show dead bodies when found by the police, if they had insects found on their remains. This is not a major part of the course in showing insect remains on bodies, but there are some videos or powerpoints to illustrate the field I work in.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Doctoral Degree in Science from University of California, Berkeley
I have been an aquatic and forensic entomologist for over 40 years. I am a certified diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Entomology (ABFE), a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) and the Entomological Society of America (ESA).
I have received the Life Time Achievement Award from the AAFS. I am a University Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University and taught courses in Forensic Entomology for 30 years at MSU as well as online courses for the last 10 years at different institutions. I have testified as an expert witness in over 40 trials involving forensic insects in criminal cases. I have appeared on Discovery’s Channel’s New Detectives, Court TV, CBS Early Morning Show, Dateline, The Fifth Estate (Canada), Cold Case Files, and CSI special features. I have also taught FBI agents forensic entomology techniques at the University of Tennessee Human Body Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee.Reviews
Live Group Course
$24
weekly or $192 for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
60 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
1-12 learners per class
