Environmental effects on forensic entomology: Difference between revisions
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== Outline == |
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*Climate |
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**Temperature |
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**Weather |
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*Geographic Locations |
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*Degree Days |
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*Utilizing Environment Factors for Pest Control |
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Revision as of 21:49, 20 March 2008
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Forensic Entomology encompasses any aspect of certain arthropods involved in legal proceedings. Forensic Entomology is divided into three branches: urban, stored products, and medicocriminal. Various environmental factors, such as climate and geographical location are responsible for certain athropodal behavior.
Utilizing Sun Exposure and Moisture levels
In determining degree days, forensic entomologists address and observe weather conditions that may have contributed to the alteration of the standard time for an insect to develop. Temperature, moisture, sun exposure all effect insect development leading to accurate post mortem interval determination.
Moisture Levels
Rain and humidity levels can affects the time for insect development depending on the amount of rain fall and humidity in the area where the body is found. If there are large amounts of rain, slower development occurs due to drop in temperature in most species, but there exceptional species that prefer these conditions. Light rain or a very humid environment will result in faster development. In a humid environment, the maggot mass heats up by the humid air trapping the heat in a localized area where the maggots are leaving a smaller number of degree days.[1]
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure can increase or decrease time of insect development. Bodies found in open areas with large amounts of sun being exposed, the body will heat up giving the insects a warmer area to develop increasing there development time. Vice-versa, in shaded areas the bodies will be cooler leaving longer degree days. If the body or area of infestation has been rained on or been made moist the insect populations will increase more rapidly.
Utilizing Environment Factors for Pest Control
Pest control experts and agencies put environmental information to practical use everyday so as to predict insect behavior and location. Pest control is a multi-million dollar operation enforced worldwide.
Weather Factors
Various weather conditions in a given amount of time cause certain pests to invade your household. Reasoning is because the insects are in search of food, water, and shelter. Damp weather causes reproduction and growth enhancement in many insect types, especially when coupled with warm temperatures. Most pests concerned at this time are ants, spiders, crickets, cockroaches, ladybugs, yellow jackets, hornets, mice, and rats. When conditions are dry, the deprivation of moisture outside drives many pests inside searching for water. While the rainy weather increases the numbers of insects, this dry weather causes pest invasions to increase. The pests most commonly known during dry conditions are scorpions, ants, pillbugs, millipedes, crickets, and spiders. Extreme drought does kill many populations of insects, but also drives surviving insects to invade more often. Cold temperatures outside will cause invasions beginning in the late summer months and early fall. Box elder bugs, cluster flies, ladybugs, and silverfish are noticed more often, seeking the warm indoors.
Precautions
There are a few measures homeowners can implement in preventing serious pest breakouts. Sealing any cracks/holes outside the home is extremely helpful, especially on the south and west areas of the home because the sun will heat those walls, creating a nice habitat for pests. Utilizing information about insect behavior due to outside influences enables humans to take the necessary steps for pest control.
IPM
IPM is a well-known Integrated Pest Management program designed to undertake pest problems, using a strong background of information about each pest in order to choose the best course of action. the overall goal of IPM is to reduce harmful effects from insects on crops, houses, and livestock while avoiding any unnecessary harm on the surrounding environment. The program utilizes and enhances any natural control methods on pests, as a priority, to avoid using pesticides if possible. A general technique is outlined with regard to formulating an active plan and evaluating the best policy.
References
External Links
http://www.clt.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/112507/fse07_forensic_entomology.pdf http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2006.00217.x
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- ^ "Pest Control Tips: Pests and Weather".Terminix.com.19 March,2008.<http://terminix.com/information/weather/>.