THE NEW YORK ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

Forensic Entomology: What have we learned

and where are we going?

 

Speakers:

Jennifer Rosati, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

City University of New York, NY

 

Louis N. Sorkin, B.C.E.

Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History

New York, NY

 

Where:                Linder Theater, AMNH

Date:                    Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Time:                    7 PM to 8:30 PM

 

Jennifer is an entomologist who has great interest in the use of insects of forensic importance.  Her research interests focus on the ecological mechanisms that drive successional patterns during decomposition and the importance of species interactions during colonization.  Her research improves on the current understanding of the various factors that play a role in the colonization behavior of many forensically related flies. Jennifer is an Assistant Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.  She obtained her B.Sc. Degree in Wildlife Biology at the University of Guelph, in Guelph, ON and completed her Ph.D. in Forensic Entomology in 2014 from the University of Windsor, in Windsor, ON. Her Ph.D. work examined priority effects in blow flies during the adult and larval stages of development, as well as the effects of habitat and season and the successional patterns of insects in the Southwestern Ontario region.

 

Louis is an entomologist and arachnologist who has been on staff at the AMNH since 1978 after having graduated from the University of Connecticut.  His interests are with arachnid systematics, taxonomy, and behavior, especially spiders, but also parasitic insects and acarines on both vertebrates and invertebrates.  Entomophagy and organic recycling via insects are Lou’s other research favorites and have been the subjects of lectures presented at past NYES monthly meetings.  An insect tasting and banquet were recent events in November, 2015, http://www.eventbrite.com/e/ny-eats-bugs-tickets-19207969554.  His studies of forensic entomology not only involve the medicolegal discipline, but also urban and stored products, and all three disciplines can become intertwined in some cases.  Bed bugs are a favorite study insect and will be reviewed as part of the presentation because unsuspecting homicide investigators unfortunately may come into contact with insects other than the run-of-the-mill flies and beetles.  This insect species might get a little too personal and become an unwanted house guest.

 

The evening’s presentation will provide an overview of the history, use and importance of forensic entomology.  It will cover the common methodologies used in the field and proper collection techniques for various insect types at different stages of development. There are a variety of arthropods that can utilize or be associated with carrion during decomposition; however, these organisms can range from being carrion-specific to incidental species. This presentation will highlight the diversity of arthropod species that can be encountered during forensic investigations.  Current research in the field will be discussed.

 

 

Dinner:      To be announced ….. 9:00PM

 

Society meetings are always open to the public with no admission charge.

 

Past Monthly Meetings

October 2015