昆虫用于死亡时间（PMI）推断的可行性已被理论和案例所证明，由于一些不确定性特别是昆虫入侵尸体时间的变异的存在使得昆虫学仍被排除在法医学调查的基本检查之外。从更深的机理来揭示昆虫在尸体上的演替规律以提高死亡时间推断精确度是必走之路。尸体腐解的原因是昆虫和微生物的作用，其中昆虫起主要作用且容易被观察，研究表明微生物分解尸体产生的挥发物是各类昆虫籍以远距离搜寻并入侵尸体的信号，在昆虫和微生物之间存在互动。微生物如何准确的影响各类昆虫的入侵和及随后的演替？在温湿度确定的情况下，环境的微生物本底是否决定了昆虫入侵尸体的时间及尸体达到白骨化所需时间？尸体上的微生物群落、腐解产生的挥发物是否可以量化用于推断死亡时间？本项目拟采用尸体腐解模拟、微生物ECO BIOLOG检测、SPME-GC/MS分析等方法对以上问题进行研究，从而为根据昆虫、微生物及挥发物判断死者的PMI提供理论依据和应用数据基础。

The feasibility of the determination of the postmortem interval of human remains based on insects has been demonstrated through research and actual forensic investigations. But the integration of entomological evidence as an essential part of an investigation still remains has not occurred. Furthermore, research is still needed to ensure that it meets the Daubert criteria. A primary concern is estimating the amount of time to elapse from death until colonization of human remains by insects. Consequently, we must continue conducting such research in order to increase our accuracy with determining when colonization occurs and potential death of the individual in question. While insects are easily observed on a corpse and they are known to be primarily responsible for the decomposition process, microbes on the remains are essential for the process to occur. They release volatiles that attract the insects to the remains. And, in many instances, these volatiles (i.e., semiochemicals) dictate insect succession patterns on the remains. To what extent do microbes impact insect invasion and subsequent succession is not known. If insect invasion time and duration on a corpse is mediated by volatiles produced by the microbes is not known. Can the microbe succession on a corpse and associated volatile dynamic be quantified and used to estimate the PMI of a corpse? In this project we will carry out research to answer the aforementioned questions. Many new methods such as decomposition simulation, ECO BIOLOG and SPME-GC/MS will be employed. Our research will provide scientific basis and application database for the determination of PMI based on insects, microbes and volatiles.