CYTOCHROME OXIDASE I (COI) GENE BASED INDENTIFICATION OF INDIAN BLOW FLIES (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE): A REVIEW

Forensic entomology is the analysis of insect evidence for forensic and legal purposes [1]. The most important task in the forensic investigation is the estimation of the minimum time since death [2,3]. Forensic entomology is the branch of forensic science in which information about insects is used to draw conclusions when investigating legal cases relating to both humans and wildlife, although the term may be occasionally expanded to include other arthropods as well. Insects can be used in the investigation of a crime scene both on land and in water [4-8]. The majority of cases where entomological evidence has been used are concerned with illegal activities which take place on land and are discovered within a short time of being committed. Gaudry et al. [9] commented that in France 70% of cadavers were found outdoors and of these 60% were less than 1 month old.