Introduction

Microanalytical entomology is the scientific discipline concerned with the detection, identification and interpretation of insect filth in foods. Microanalytical entomology is a branch of forensic entomology. There are three generally recognized categories of forensic entomology: urban forensic entomology, stored-product forensic entomology and medicolegal forensic entomology. From the governmental viewpoint, the applications of microanalytical entomology are definitely regulatory and forensic because the objectives are to establish compliance or noncompliance of the food product with the law and to establish guilt or innocence of a particular individual or corporation that is suspected or accused of causing the adulteration of a food product. The scientific discipline of microanalytical entomology is the application of entomological knowledge to issues involved in the civil and criminal law concerned with the cleanliness and safety of foods, drugs and cosmetics. In the United States, the federal Food and Drug Act of 1906 marks the beginning of the development of microanalytical entomology.