Effects of Ethanol Exposure on Decomposition and Insect Colonization

In the field of forensic entomology, various factors go into account during the determination of a post mortem interval. These variables arise from different scenarios that affect insect colonization and decomposition. One scenario, involves the use of alcohol, due to its availability in the market and the effects it has on different species of insects. This leads researchers to believe that alcohol does indeed change the pattern of decomposition in test subjects containing alcohol. By using chickens, it was observed that after a week of exposure both the specimen containing the alcohol, as well as the control chicken, decomposed at nearly the same rate. This result could be explained by close proximity of the two specimens.