Blowfly detectives

Blowflies with their ability to smell rotting meat from long distances may be some of the most reviled insects on the planet.

But as Dr Erica McAlister discovers, they’ve become central to the surprisingly long tradition of forensic entomology.

Series looking at some of the entomological pioneers, whose groundbreaking observations and experiments have led to some truly innovative developments.

With contributions from:

* Forensic entomologists Martin Hall (Natural History Museum)
* Gail Anderson (Simon Fraser University, British Columbia)
* Daniel Martin Vega (University of Alcala, Madrid).

Producer Adrian Washbourne

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2021.