Child neglect and forensic entomology

Close co-operation between forensic scientists, medico-legal doctors, and p olice forces made it possible to estimate not only the post-mortem interval but also the time since a child was neglected. On the skin surface under t he diaper (anal-genital area), third instar larvae of the false stable fly Muscina stabulans FALLEN, and the lesser house fly Fannia canicularis L. we re found. F. canicularis adults are attracted to both feces and urine. From the face, larvae of the bluebottle fly Calliphora vomitoria L. were collec ted. C. vomitoria maggots are typical early inhabitants of corpses. From th e developmental times of the flies, it was estimated that the anal-genital area of the child had not been cleaned for about 14 days (7-21 day range), and that death occurred only 6-8 days prior to discovery of the body. This is the first report where an examination of the maggot fauna on a person il lustrated neglect that had occurred prior to death. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.