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

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