Thanatology: forensic entomology: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Thanatology: forensic entomology

Sample item

A decomposed body is found outdoors about five days after death. An entomologist wants a minimum estimate of the post-mortem interval. Which evidence is most useful?

AThe colour of the adult beetles at the sceneBThe age of the oldest blowfly larvae or pupae collected from the bodyCThe number of adult houseflies in the roomDThe presence of mites on the skin surface

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. The age of the oldest blowfly larvae or pupae collected from the body

Blowflies (Calliphoridae) colonise a body within minutes to hours of death, so the age of the oldest larvae, estimated from their stage and size and the ambient temperature, gives the minimum time since death. Later waves of insects such as beetles help in older remains. Adult flies and mites do not date the interval as precisely.

Option by option

A. The colour of the adult beetles at the scene
Adult beetle colour has no value for dating death.
B. The age of the oldest blowfly larvae or pupae collected from the body (correct)
Correct. The oldest larvae date the first egg-laying, giving the minimum post-mortem interval.
C. The number of adult houseflies in the room
Adult houseflies are transient and do not date colonisation.
D. The presence of mites on the skin surface
Mites appear in later stages and give no precise early dating.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, The age of the oldest blowfly larvae or pupae collected from the body. Blowflies (Calliphoridae) colonise a body within minutes to hours of death, so the age of the oldest larvae, estimated from their stage and size and the ambient temperature, gives the minimum time since death.

Why is "The colour of the adult beetles at the scene" not the answer?

Adult beetle colour has no value for dating death.

Why is "The number of adult houseflies in the room" not the answer?

Adult houseflies are transient and do not date colonisation.

Why is "The presence of mites on the skin surface" not the answer?

Mites appear in later stages and give no precise early dating.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: forensic entomology in Forensic Medicine. Later waves of insects such as beetles help in older remains. Adult flies and mites do not date the interval as precisely.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Thanatology: forensic entomology?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.