Editing Forensic entomology (section)

===Scanning electron microscopy===
Fly larvae and fly eggs are used to aid in the determination of a PMI. In order for the data to be useful the larvae and eggs must be identified down to a species level to get an accurate estimate for the PMI. There are many techniques currently being developed to differentiate between the various species of forensically important insects. A study in 2007 demonstrates a technique that can use [[Scanning electron microscope|scanning electron microscopy]] (SEM) to identify key morphological features of eggs and maggots.<ref name="pmid18353656">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mendonça PM, dos Santos-Mallet JR, de Mello RP, Gomes L, de Carvalho Queiroz MM | title = Identification of fly eggs using scanning electron microscopy for forensic investigations | journal = Micron | volume = 39 | issue = 7 | pages = 802–807 | date = October 2008 | pmid = 18353656 | doi = 10.1016/j.micron.2008.01.014 }}</ref> Some of the morphological differences that can help identify the different species are the presence/absence of anastomosis, the presence/absence of anterior and posterior spiracles,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ahmad Firdaus MS, Marwi MA, Syamsa RA, Zuha RM, Ikhwan Z, Omar B | title = Morphological descriptions of second and third instar larvae of Hypopygiopsis violacea Macquart (Diptera:Calliphoridae), a forensically important fly in Malaysia | journal = Tropical Biomedicine | volume = 27 | issue = 1 | pages = 134–137 | date = April 2010 | pmid = 20562824 | url = https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20562824/ }}</ref> the cephalopharyngeal skeleton as well as the shape and length of the median area.

The SEM method provides an array of morphological features for use in identifying fly eggs; however, this method does have some disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that it requires expensive equipment and can take time to identify the species from which the egg originated, so it may not be useful in a field study or to quickly identify a particular egg.<ref name=Sukontason>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sukontason K, Sukontason KL, Piangjai S, Boonchu N, Kurahashi H, Hope M, Olson JK | title = Identification of forensically important fly eggs using a potassium permanganate staining technique | journal = Micron | volume = 35 | issue = 5 | pages = 391–395 | year = 2004 | pmid = 15006363 | doi = 10.1016/j.micron.2003.12.004 }}</ref>
The SEM method is effective provided there is ample time and the proper equipment and the particular fly eggs are plentiful. The ability to use these morphological differences gives forensic entomologists a powerful tool that can help with estimating a post mortem interval, along with other relevant information, such as whether the body has been disturbed post mortem.