title: Use of aquatic insects in determining submersion interval.
abstract: Although its potential is great, the use of aquatic insects in determining submersion intervals at death-scene investigations has not been exploited in the past. Aquatic environments have no known true specific indicator species, as do terrestrial habitats. However, aquatic environmental studies show that organisms may colonize a substrate dependent on factors such as size, position, exposure to current, water temperature, current speed, water depth, the presence of algal communities, or detritus. Certain aquatic insects such as the chironomid midges (Diptera, Chironomidae), and the caddisflies (Trichoptera), are capable of colonizing immersed bodies; and with the known biology of a specific species of insect for a certain geographic area, time intervals of submersion can be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Haskell
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: McShaffrey
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pless
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002683:Chironomidae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D007313:Insecta / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water