Thanatology: forensic entomology late colonisers: 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.

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Forensic Medicine · Thanatology: forensic entomology late colonisers

Sample item

A body left outdoors in a hot, dry place has passed through the fresh and bloated stages, and only dried skin, cartilage and hair remain. Which insects are typically feeding on it at this late stage?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Dermestid (skin) beetles

Forensic entomology follows a succession. Blowflies arrive within minutes to hours and their larvae feed on soft tissue; the beetles that eat dry skin, cartilage and tendon, such as dermestids, arrive in the dry stage. The insect species present give a clue to the postmortem interval.

Option by option

  • A. Adult mosquitoes

    Mosquitoes feed on blood of living hosts and play no role in decomposition of a dried body.

  • B. Flesh fly larvae

    Flesh fly larvae also feed on moist tissue in the earlier stages of decomposition.

  • C. Blowfly larvae

    Blowflies are the first colonisers and their larvae need moist soft tissue.

  • D. Dermestid (skin) beetles (correct)

    Correct. Dermestid beetles feed on dry skin and cartilage in the late, dry stage.

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.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Dermestid (skin) beetles. Forensic entomology follows a succession.

Why is "Adult mosquitoes" not the answer?

Mosquitoes feed on blood of living hosts and play no role in decomposition of a dried body.

Why is "Flesh fly larvae" not the answer?

Flesh fly larvae also feed on moist tissue in the earlier stages of decomposition.

Why is "Blowfly larvae" not the answer?

Blowflies are the first colonisers and their larvae need moist soft tissue.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: forensic entomology late colonisers in Forensic Medicine. Blowflies arrive within minutes to hours and their larvae feed on soft tissue; the beetles that eat dry skin, cartilage and tendon, such as dermestids, arrive in the dry stage. The insect species present give a clue to the postmortem interval.

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 late colonisers?

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.