In an aquatic environment, determining the cause and manner of death for
bodies recovered from water can be quite challenging. Postmortem modifications
add another layer of complexity to this process. First, it must be established that
the recovery site is the primary death scene; for example, a death may occur on
land, with the body subsequently disposed of by being submerged in water, and
vice versa. Therefore, understanding how environmental conditions and variables
affect the distribution of arthropods, including insects, on carcasses is essential for
estimating the time interval after death. However, research and references
focusing on the relationship between arthropods and corpses from a forensic
perspective are sparse and often disconnected, particularly regarding the aquatic
environment and aquatic arthropods. These organisms play a significant role in
corpse analysis and detection during investigations, especially in criminal cases
involving the flotation of bodies infested with fly larvae. The presence of these
larvae is influenced by the aquatic environment, which is affected by various
factors such as water type, chemicals present, physical characteristics, microbes in
the surrounding water, and seasonal variations at the time of death. While many
larvae have been identified at different developmental stages, their overall
quantity tends to be lower compared to those typically found on terrestrial
carcasses. Nonetheless, the presence of aquatic insects on corpses can serve as a
valuable indicator of the location of death in relation to the aquatic environment.
Thus, arthropod analysis is an important tool in investigations involving cadavers
discovered in aquatic settings.