Succession Wave
Definition
A cohort of insect species arriving at a body as one decomposition stage creates the conditions they require. Each wave modifies the habitat in ways that attract the next, producing a broadly predictable temporal sequence.
- Core concept
- Temporal sequence of insect colonization at decomposing remains
- Key insight
- Later insect arrivals extend the PMI estimation window beyond the initial blow fly wave
Common questions
What is a succession wave in forensic entomology?+
A succession wave is a predictable sequence of different insect species that arrive at a decomposing body over time. Each wave of insects creates conditions in the habitat that attract the next wave, producing a broadly predictable temporal pattern that forensic experts can use to estimate time since death.
How does the arrival of different insect species help estimate time of death?+
The initial blow flies colonize the body first, but later arrivals like beetles and secondary flies extend the time window beyond what the first wave allows. This multi-wave sequence gives investigators more markers across a longer timeline to narrow down when death occurred.
Why is the sequence of insect arrivals predictable?+
Each cohort of insects modifies the decomposing body as a habitat, making it more or less suitable for different species. These habitat changes naturally attract specific insects in a consistent order, creating a pattern that repeats across similar conditions and environments.
Related terms
- Accumulated Degree Hours / Days (ADH / ADD)
- A measure of thermal energy available for insect development, calculated as the sum of (temperature above the developmental threshold) multiplied by time....
- Accumulated Degree Hours/days (ADH/ADD)
- A temperature-corrected measure of thermal energy available for insect development, calculated by summing the degrees above a species-specific base temperature over time....
- Autolysis
- Self-digestion of cells after death caused by the release of lysosomal enzymes. No microbial involvement is required. Autolysis begins within minutes of...
- Cadaveric Decomposition Island (CDI)
- The patch of soil beneath and around a decomposing body, enriched in nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic compounds from decomposition fluids. CDI chemistry...
- Killing Sample
- The portion of collected insects killed immediately in hot water and then fixed in 70-80% ethanol. It preserves the exact developmental instar...
- Maggot Mass
- A dense aggregate of larvae feeding collectively, often at body openings or wounds. The mass generates its own heat, sometimes 10 degrees...
- Post-Mortem Interval (PMI)
- The time elapsed between death and discovery or examination of remains. PMI estimation draws on multiple disciplines: soft tissue decomposition stage, insect...
- Postmortem Interval (PMI)
- The elapsed time since death. Entomological PMI estimation uses the developmental stage and known growth rates of insects colonising the body to...
- Putrefaction
- Decomposition of tissues by microorganisms, principally anaerobic bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract. Products include hydrogen sulphide, methane, ammonia, and putrescine, which cause...
- Rearing Sample
- Live larvae placed in a rearing container with fresh liver or meat, kept at a controlled temperature until adults emerge. Adult morphology...
Explained in these topics
- Collection of Entomological Evidence at the SceneThe predictable sequence in which different insect species colonise a decomposing body. Later arrivals (beetles, secondary flies) extend the PMI window beyond...
- Decomposition Stages and the Cadaver as a HabitatA cohort of insect species arriving at a body as one decomposition stage creates the conditions they require. Each wave modifies the habitat in ways that attra...