Information Package / Course Catalogue
Forensic Entomology
Course Code: LBT247
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: Short Cycle (Associate's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 0
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 2
Objectives of the Course

The objective of this course is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to use insects and other arthropods in forensic cases—particularly in postmortem investigations—to scientifically assess the time of death, postmortem changes, and crime scene conditions. The course will cover the basic principles of forensic entomology, crime scene investigation procedures, and the analysis of entomological evidence.

Course Content

Definition and scope of forensic entomology; postmortem changes (post-mortem interval – PMI); crime scene ecology and insect colonization; insect groups found on cadavers; Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, and other important families; larval developmental stages; temperature–development relationship; crime scene sampling methods; collection and preservation of entomological evidence; laboratory analysis procedures; forensic reporting; case examples; and the role of forensic entomology in forensic science.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Explains the basic concepts and scope of forensic entomology.
2.It assesses insect colonisation processes at the site.
3.It links post-mortem changes (PMI) with entomological data.
4.It identifies groups of insects of forensic significance.
5.It explains methods for collecting entomological evidence from the crime scene.
6.Interprets the developmental stages of insects and their relationship with temperature.
7.Explains the storage and transport of entomological evidence to the laboratory.
8.It defines the basic methods used in forensic entomological analysis.
9.Explains the fundamental principles of forensic reporting.
10.It assesses the use of entomological data in forensic cases.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Higley, L.G., and Huntington, T.E., 2009. Forensic Entomology: An Introduction, Journal of Medical Entomology.
2.Smith K.G.V., 1986. A Manual of Forensic Entomology. British Library Cataloging in Publication Data.
3.Reimer, L., Weeks, E., England, M., Laroche, M., and Barton, P., 2026. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Royal Entomological Society.
4.Forensic science case reports.
5.Recent scientific articles.
6.Crime scene investigation guidelines.
7.Theses on forensic entomology.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Introduction to forensic entomology, basic voncepts.
Week 2 - Theoretical
The role of forensic entomology in forensic sciences.
Week 3 - Theoretical
Postmortem transformation processes (PMI).
Week 4 - Theoretical
Colonization of the site by insects.
Week 5 - Theoretical
Insect groups of forensic significance.
Week 6 - Theoretical
Diptera (particularly Calliphoridae) and their life stages.
Week 7 - Theoretical
The relationship between larval development and temperature.
Week 8 - Theoretical
Techniques for collecting evidence from a crime scene. (Midterm Exam)
Week 9 - Theoretical
Techniques for collecting evidence from a crime scene.
Week 10 - Theoretical
Preservation and transport of entomological evidence.
Week 11 - Theoretical
Basic approaches to PMI calculations.
Week 12 - Theoretical
Laboratory safety and quality management in forensic entomology.
Week 13 - Theoretical
Forensic reporting and evidence evaluation.
Week 14 - Theoretical
Case studies and real-life examples of forensic entomology.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Assignment1%5
Quiz1%5
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory140228
Assignment1516
Quiz1516
Midterm Examination1516
Final Examination1516
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)52
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
PÇ-14
OÇ-1
4
5
1
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
4
OÇ-2
4
5
2
3
2
3
2
1
3
1
1
3
OÇ-3
4
5
2
3
2
3
2
2
4
2
1
3
OÇ-4
3
4
2
3
1
2
2
2
4
1
1
3
OÇ-5
3
4
2
4
2
1
3
2
2
5
2
1
4
OÇ-6
3
4
2
4
3
1
3
2
3
5
3
2
4
OÇ-7
3
4
2
3
2
2
3
2
3
4
3
2
4
OÇ-8
3
4
2
3
2
2
3
2
3
4
3
2
4
OÇ-9
3
4
3
4
2
2
4
3
3
4
3
3
5
OÇ-10
3
5
3
5
2
2
4
3
4
5
3
3
5
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026