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Background Infestation

Definition

Pre-existing insect activity in a property unrelated to the victim. The entomologist must distinguish insect evidence directly linked to the victim (on or in wounds) from background structural pests in the environment.

Related terms

Duty of Care Failure
In neglect prosecutions, the legal standard requires showing that a carer had a duty to the victim, failed to meet it, and...
Facultative Myiasis
Myiasis caused by species that normally breed in carrion or organic debris but can infest living tissue, particularly necrotic wounds. Lucilia sericata,...
Infestation Age
The minimum period an infestation has been established, back-calculated from the oldest (most developed) larval stage present using accumulated temperature data. Gives...
Myiasis
Infestation of a living human or other vertebrate by the larvae of flies, which feed on living or necrotic tissue, body fluids,...
Obligate Myiasis
Myiasis caused by species whose larvae must develop in living tissue to complete their life cycle. The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax)...

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