Forensic Entomology is the study of insects that are found at a decomposing body. There are several stages in the decomposition process.

The first stage is fresh. This where the person has just recently died. The body has not yet begun to decay. With time, blowflies come to the body, and lay their eggs for storage and use for the larvae.

The next stage is active decay. Millions of insects, including maggots, come to the body, and eat away at the body. In the bloating stage, which is stage three, the bodily fluids build up. This causes the body to bloat and become bigger. Once there is too much fluid, the body either flattens or explodes.

After, the body goes into the post decay stage. At this stage, the insects are leaving, the remaining tissues and flesh are decaying, and soon turns to the dry remains stage. At this stage, all of the organs, tissues, meat, and skin are gone, as well as fluids. The only thing left is bones and cartlidge.

The insects and bodily remains would show the timeline of how long a person has been dead. If a body is placed in the open, one in a plastic bag, and one in a dumpster, each one will decompose at a different rate. The body in the open decomposes for the longest time, the body in the plastic bag will decompose faster, and the body in the dumpster will decompose the fastest.