Question

Caleb is a forensic entomologist gathering evidence at a crime scene. How can he determine the stage the maggot larva has reached?

Caleb is a forensic entomologist gathering evidence at a crime scene. From the victim's mouth, he retrieves maggots that are in the ___________


which is the stage maggots reach directly after hatching. He can determine the stage of the maggot larva based on the__________


and the_____________


of the larva

Answer 1

Forensic entomologist Caleb can determine the stage of maggot larva at a crime scene by examining the larva's size and development, such as its physical structures and molting stage. This information helps him estimate the time of death based on the maggot's age.

Step-by-step explanation:

Caleb is a forensic entomologist gathering evidence at a crime scene. From the victim's mouth, he retrieves maggots that are in the larval stage, which is the stage maggots reach directly after hatching. He can determine the stage of the maggot larva based on the size and development of the larva, including characteristics such as the presence of specific physical structures and the degree of molting. Maggots go through several larval stages—L1, L2, L3, and L4—before reaching the pupal stage, where they will undergo metamorphosis to become adult flies. By examining these larval features in detail, Caleb can estimate the time of death, as the age of the maggots corresponds to the post-mortem interval.