Editing Forensic entomology (section)

===Beetles===

[[Beetle]]s (Order [[Coleoptera]]) are generally found in later stages of decomposition.<ref>Midgley JM, Richards CS, Villet MH, 2010. The utility of Coleoptera in forensic investigations. In: Amendt J, Campobasso CP, Goff ML, Grassberger M, eds. Current concepts in forensic entomology. Heidelberg: Springer, 57-68.</ref> They play a role in breaking down the remaining tissue and are important in the final stages of decomposition. In drier conditions, the beetles can be replaced by moth flies ([[Psychodidae]]). Their life cycle normally consists of four stages : eggs, larval, pupal, and adult. Each stage has unique eating behavior that changes as the organism breaks down. In forensic investigations, the existence and developmental phases of insects can yield important data for understanding environmental circumstances, body movement, and postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. In forensic entomology, insects play a crucial function as indicators, helping to identify vital components of a death investigation due to their distinct ecological responsibilities and varied geographic distribution. Different types of beetles can be found on dead bodies the most significant include:
[[File:Rove Beetle. Staphylinidae - Flickr - gailhampshire (1).jpg|thumb|Rove Beetle]]

* Rove beetles – family [[Staphylinidae]] – are elongate beetles with small [[elytra]] (wing covers) and large jaws. Rove beetles have a four-stage life cycle; egg, larvae, pupa and adult.<ref>{{cite web| vauthors = Sutherland CA |date= October 2006 |title=Rove Beetles|url=https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/plantclinic/documents/t-07-rovebeetles.pdf | work = Cooperative Extension Service, College of Agriculture and Home Economics | publisher = New Mexico State University}}</ref> ''[[Creophilus]]'' species are common predators of carrion, and since they are large, are a very visible component of the fauna of corpses. Some adult Staphylinidae are early visitors to a corpse, feeding on larvae of all species of fly, including the later predatory fly larvae. They lay their eggs in the corpse, and the emerging larvae are also predators. Some species have a long development time in the egg, and are common only during the later stages of decomposition. Staphylinids can also tear open the [[pupa]]l cases of flies, to sustain themselves at a corpse for long periods.
*Hister beetles – family [[Histeridae]]. Adult histerids are usually shiny beetles (black or metallic-green) which have an introverted head. The carrion-feeding species only become active at night when they enter the maggot-infested part of the corpse to capture and devour their maggot prey. During daylight they hide under the corpse unless it is sufficiently decayed to enable them to hide inside it. They have fast larval development with only two larval stages. Among the first beetles to arrive at a corpse are Histeridae of the genus ''[[Saprinus]]''. ''Saprinus'' adults feed on both the larvae and pupae of [[blowflies]], although some have a preference for fresh pupae. The adults lay their eggs in the corpse, inhabiting it in the later stages of decay.
*Carrion beetles – family [[Silphidae]]- Adult Silphidae have an average size of about 12&nbsp;mm. They are also referred to as burying beetles because they dig and bury small carcasses underground.<ref name="Scott">{{cite journal | vauthors = Scott MP | title = The ecology and behavior of burying beetles | journal = Annual Review of Entomology | volume = 43 | pages = 595–618 | date = January 1998 | pmid = 15012399 | doi = 10.1146/annurev.ento.43.1.595 }}</ref> Both parents tend to their young and exhibit communal breeding. The male carrion beetle's job in care is to provide protection for the breed and carcass from competitors. ''[[Necrodes littoralis]]'' is a type of carrion beetle in the Silphidae family that prefers to inhabit bodies that are outdoors and in the later stages of decomposition. Modeling the activity and behaviors of carrion beetles like ''N. littoralis'' and other carrion beetles that inhbait bodies earlier in death is a helpful tool to map time of death.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gruszka J, Matuszewski S | title = Temperature models of development for Necrodes littoralis L. (Coleoptera: Silphidae), a carrion beetle of forensic importance in the Palearctic region | journal = Scientific Reports | volume = 12 | issue = 1 | pages = 9689 | date = June 2022 | pmid = 35690667 | doi = 10.1038/s41598-022-13901-y | bibcode = 2022NatSR..12.9689G | pmc = 9188545 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gruszka J, Matuszewski S | title = Insect rearing protocols in forensic entomology: Benefits from collective rearing of larvae in a carrion beetle Necrodes littoralis L. (Silphidae) | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 16 | issue = 12 | pages = e0260680 | date = 2021-12-01 | pmid = 34852020 | pmc = 8635339 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0260680 | doi-access = free | bibcode = 2021PLoSO..1660680G }}</ref>
*Ham beetles – family [[Cleridae]].
*Carcass beetles – family [[Trogidae]].
*Skin/hide beetles – family [[Dermestidae]]. Hide beetles are important in the final stages of decomposition of a carcass. The adults and larvae feed on the dried skin, tendons and bone left by fly larvae. Hide beetles are the only beetle with the enzymes necessary for breaking down [[keratin]], a protein component of hair.
*Scarab beetles – family [[Scarabaeidae]]- Scarab beetles may be any one of around 30,000 beetle species worldwide that are compact, heavy-bodied and oval in shape. The flattened plates, which each antenna terminates, are fitted together to form a club. The outer edges of the front legs may also be toothed or scalloped. Scarab beetles range from {{convert|0.2|to|4.8|in|mm|abbr=on}} in length. These species are known for being one of the heaviest insect species.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Scarab beetle | date = 2007 | encyclopedia = Britannica Concise Encyclopedia | url = https://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1B1-377894.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080614005855/http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1B1-377894.html | archive-date = 14 June 2008 }}</ref>
*Sap beetles – family [[Nitidulidae]].