Forensic Entomology

What is Forensic Entomology? Forensic entomology is the application of the study of insects (and their arthropod counterparts) to the medico/legal system. Insects can be used to determine elapsed time since death (also known as Post Mortem Interval or PMI), but they can also be used to determine if a body has been moved from one location to another, tell whether or not a body has been buried, and give an approximate time of year of when a person died. Entomologists have also been used in narcotics case to determine the country of origin of some drugs.
How do I become a Forensic Entomologist? If you are interested in forensic entomology, and you think it is a career you want to pursue, you have to keep in mind that you aren't going to find very many forensic entomology programs at the undergraduate level. Rather you must study entomology (usually starting at the masters level) and through that, learn how to apply it to police investigations when necessary. In the United States, you may also become a member of the American Board of Forensic Entomology (ABFE; website found here). You must have a PhD in entomology and appropriate experience as well. Below are links to university programs that you can take in order to study entomology, as well as entomology links that I have found on Google. This list is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully it helps you find what you are looking for. Here are some schools where you can go to study entomology. Back to Forensic Resource Page

What is Forensic Entomology?

Forensic entomology is the application of the study of insects (and their arthropod counterparts) to the medico/legal system. Insects can be used to determine elapsed time since death (also known as Post Mortem Interval or PMI), but they can also be used to determine if a body has been moved from one location to another, tell whether or not a body has been buried, and give an approximate time of year of when a person died. Entomologists have also been used in narcotics case to determine the country of origin of some drugs.

How do I become a Forensic Entomologist?

If you are interested in forensic entomology, and you think it is a career you want to pursue, you have to keep in mind that you aren't going to find very many forensic entomology programs at the undergraduate level. Rather you must study entomology (usually starting at the masters level) and through that, learn how to apply it to police investigations when necessary.

In the United States, you may also become a member of the American Board of Forensic Entomology (ABFE; website found here). You must have a PhD in entomology and appropriate experience as well.

Below are links to university programs that you can take in order to study entomology, as well as entomology links that I have found on Google.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully it helps you find what you are looking for.

Here are some schools where you can go to study entomology.

Back to Forensic Resource Page