Most insects used in forensic investigations belong to two major orders. Which pair correctly identifies these orders?

• A. Diptera and Coleoptera
• B. Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera
• C. Coleoptera and Lepidoptera
• D. Diptera and Hymenoptera

Answer: (A)

In forensic entomology, two insect groups are most informative for estimating time since death: Diptera and Coleoptera. Diptera, or true flies, are typically the first to arrive at a corpse. Their larvae—maggots—develop in predictable, temperature-dependent stages, so measuring their growth helps scientists estimate how long the body has been exposed. As decomposition advances, beetles from Coleoptera become more common, feeding on tissues and later on dry remains. The developmental progress and species present among Coleoptera provide additional data to refine PMI estimates and infer environmental conditions.

Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) and Hymenoptera (ants, wasps) can appear in forensic contexts, but they are not the two primary, consistently utilized groups for PMI estimation across the different stages of decomposition. Thus, the combination that best matches the most routinely used orders in forensic investigations is Diptera and Coleoptera.