Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem Period
Forensic entomology is primarily focused on using carrion blow flies and beetles (Diptera and Coleoptera) to estimate the time since death. However, insect artefacts, such as footprints, defecations, regurgitations, and splatters are also considered within the disciplines of bloodstain pattern analy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Forensic Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6756/3/3/35 |
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| author | Yogesh Kumar Edda E. Guareschi Himender Bharti Paola A. Magni |
| author_facet | Yogesh Kumar Edda E. Guareschi Himender Bharti Paola A. Magni |
| author_sort | Yogesh Kumar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Forensic entomology is primarily focused on using carrion blow flies and beetles (Diptera and Coleoptera) to estimate the time since death. However, insect artefacts, such as footprints, defecations, regurgitations, and splatters are also considered within the disciplines of bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA), and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have been studied in forensic pathology for their potential to alter bodies. Although ant activity has been mostly reported as “dry marks” (abrasions) on decomposing bodies, their colonisation of congested or hypostatic anatomical regions can produce alterations that mimic active or recent haemorrhages. Therefore, if a body exhibits external haemorrhage/s without any apparent origin, artefacts caused by insects, such as ants, should be considered. This study describes ten cases of post-mortem ant activity observed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India), and analyses the resulting external haemorrhagic artefacts, which exhibit different patterns of morphology, distribution, and location. The study proposes a classification system to aid in identifying bloodstain patterns caused by ant activity, assisting in determining the mechanism/s of the lesions, the original position of the body, and any subsequent interactions with the surrounding environment. Ultimately, this classification can improve the accuracy of reconstructing the events that occurred during the early post-mortem period, as well as the circumstances surrounding death. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:45:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7bfb6d814d0c492da45e3bbfbe6c9aae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6756 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:45:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7bfb6d814d0c492da45e3bbfbe6c9aae2023-11-19T10:44:31ZengMDPI AGForensic Sciences2673-67562023-09-013350652010.3390/forensicsci3030035Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem PeriodYogesh Kumar0Edda E. Guareschi1Himender Bharti2Paola A. Magni3Forensic Science Laboratory, CID, Aberdeen Bazaar, Port Blair, A&N Islands 744101, IndiaSchool of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, AustraliaDepartment of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, IndiaSchool of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, AustraliaForensic entomology is primarily focused on using carrion blow flies and beetles (Diptera and Coleoptera) to estimate the time since death. However, insect artefacts, such as footprints, defecations, regurgitations, and splatters are also considered within the disciplines of bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA), and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have been studied in forensic pathology for their potential to alter bodies. Although ant activity has been mostly reported as “dry marks” (abrasions) on decomposing bodies, their colonisation of congested or hypostatic anatomical regions can produce alterations that mimic active or recent haemorrhages. Therefore, if a body exhibits external haemorrhage/s without any apparent origin, artefacts caused by insects, such as ants, should be considered. This study describes ten cases of post-mortem ant activity observed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India), and analyses the resulting external haemorrhagic artefacts, which exhibit different patterns of morphology, distribution, and location. The study proposes a classification system to aid in identifying bloodstain patterns caused by ant activity, assisting in determining the mechanism/s of the lesions, the original position of the body, and any subsequent interactions with the surrounding environment. Ultimately, this classification can improve the accuracy of reconstructing the events that occurred during the early post-mortem period, as well as the circumstances surrounding death.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6756/3/3/35bloodstain pattern analyses (BPA)forensic entomologyinsect artefactsexternal haemorrhageant bites |
| spellingShingle | Yogesh Kumar Edda E. Guareschi Himender Bharti Paola A. Magni Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem Period Forensic Sciences bloodstain pattern analyses (BPA) forensic entomology insect artefacts external haemorrhage ant bites |
| title | Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem Period |
| title_full | Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem Period |
| title_fullStr | Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem Period |
| title_full_unstemmed | Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem Period |
| title_short | Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem Period |
| title_sort | haemorrhagic artefacts produced by ant activity on human cadavers in the early post mortem period |
| topic | bloodstain pattern analyses (BPA) forensic entomology insect artefacts external haemorrhage ant bites |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6756/3/3/35 |
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