Haemorrhagic Artefacts Produced by Ant Activity on Human Cadavers in the Early Post-Mortem Period

Abstract

Forensic entomology is primarily focused on using carrion blow flies and beetles (Diptera and Coleoptera) to estimate the time since death. However, insect artefacts, such as footprints, defecations, regurgitations, and splatters are also considered within the disciplines of bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA), and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have been studied in forensic pathology for their potential to alter bodies. Although ant activity has been mostly reported as “dry marks” (abrasions) on decomposing bodies, their colonisation of congested or hypostatic anatomical regions can produce alterations that mimic active or recent haemorrhages. Therefore, if a body exhibits external haemorrhage/s without any apparent origin, artefacts caused by insects, such as ants, should be considered. This study describes ten cases of post-mortem ant activity observed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India), and analyses the resulting external haemorrhagic artefacts, which exhibit different patterns of morphology, distribution, and location. The study proposes a classification system to aid in identifying bloodstain patterns caused by ant activity, assisting in determining the mechanism/s of the lesions, the original position of the body, and any subsequent interactions with the surrounding environment. Ultimately, this classification can improve the accuracy of reconstructing the events that occurred during the early post-mortem period, as well as the circumstances surrounding death.