The detection of toxic substances in entomological specimens

Entomotoxicology (the study of drugs in insects), a new field of forensic investigations, has still to be precisely defined especially with respect to the toxic substances that can be assessed in entomological specimens. The aim of the present work was to review the relevant entomological publications in order to analyse and describe the various toxic substances that have been detected in biological specimens. Experimental studies have been reviewed separately from case reports. Toxic substances have been classified according to forensic toxicology methodology and on the basis of the chemical and analytical features. This classification will help investigators to identify the compounds that can be found in such biological samples and may stimulate new analytical research investigations. Given the heterogeneity of specimens, the use of non-specific tests (such as immunoenzyme assays) is not recommended and specific and sensitive techniques are suggested. Methods such as GC-MS and HPLC-MS allow the exact identification of the toxic substances and their metabolites.