Forensic Entomology: When Puparia of Insect Stages is the Only Link to Cause

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to conduct an entomotoxicological analysis on puparia cases and adult insects bred from monocrotophos poisoned carrions. The results indicate that, the poison was better detected in puparia cases compared to adults. This is valuable as puparia abundance at carrion in the late stages of decomposition is a common phenomenon compared to maggots and adults. Hence, standard operating procedures for collecting entomological evidence at death scene involving heavily decomposed remains should focus on collecting puparia, as they could be a link to cause of death, especially when foul play by poisoning is suspected. Keywords: puparia, insect, entomotoxicology, forensic entomology, decomposition