A review of the estimation of postmortem interval using forensic entomology.

This article focuses on the role of forensic entomology in estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) in death investigations, particularly when the PMI exceeds 24–48 hours and traditional forensic pathology methods become less reliable. It reviews how necrophagous insects, especially blow flies, are used to estimate PMI by analyzing their developmental stages, which are influenced by various abiotic factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and geographic location, as well as biotic factors including genetics, food availability, and the presence of drugs (entomotoxicology). The article also discusses mathematical models like thermal summation and curvilinear models for calculating PMI based on insect development and highlights tools such as morphology, optical tomography, hyperspectral imaging, and molecular methods for age estimation of insects. Despite complexities introduced by environmental and biological variables, forensic entomology remains a valuable discipline for PMI estimation, with ongoing research improving its accuracy and applicability in forensic investigations.