Ashleigh Whiffin

Last updated

Ashleigh Whiffin
NationalityBritish
Alma mater University of Derby (BSc)
Harper Adams University (MSc)
Scientific career
Fields Entomology
Institutions Edinburgh University
National Museum of Scotland

Ashleigh Whiffin is an entomologist in the UK. She is a curator at the National Museum of Scotland and a specialist in carrion beetles (Silphidae).

Contents

Education and career

Whiffin studied BSc (Hons) in forensic science at the University of Derby, during which she specialised in forensic entomology. [1] She moved on to do MSc Entomology at Harper Adams University, and then started as a research technician at the University of Edinburgh working on burying beetles in Jacob Moorad's lab. [2]

In 2014 she joined National Museums Scotland (NMS) as a Collections Assistant, she progressed to Curatorial Assistant and as of 2021 is Assistant Curator of Entomology. [3]

Research

Whiffin has carried out forensic entomology research, [4] as well as work on the insects attracted to plants with carrion flowers, such as the carrion beetle Necrodes littoralis which as attracted to the Titan arum 'New Reekie' at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the first time that carrion beetles have been recorded attracted to the plant species outside of Indonesia'. [5]

She has worked on Ichneumonid wasps within the NMS collection [6] and has taught courses on the care of entomological specimens. [7]

Whiffin is co-organiser of the UK carrion beetle species national biological recording scheme, [8] [9] she has written about carrion beetles for popular science magazines [10] and in 2021 published a UK species atlas and identification guide on the Histeridae, Sphaeritidae and Silphidae of Britain and Ireland. [11]

Public outreach

Whiffin has published on how social media can be used to engage the public with museum collections, helping to develop the SCOPE framework. [12]

She advocates about Scotland's wildlife to the media, highlighting the phenomenon of a non-biting midge swarms [13] [14] and was interviewed about how maths is used in her work [15] and talked about her career and work on the UK Wildlife podcast in 2021. [16]

She has given public talks such an introduction to beetles [17] and about the collection at NMS, [18] in 2018 she spoke at the EntoSci18 event for young entomologists at Harper Adams [19] and in 2020 she was part of the panel event 'Sharing Stories' for National Insect Week. [20]

In 2020 Whiffin was a judge for the Royal Entomological Society's National Insect Week 2020 Photography Competition, with Tim Cockerill and Nick Baker [21] and sits on the Society's Outreach Committee. [22]

In 2023 Whiffin appears on BBC Winterwatch talking with Gillian Burke about the insects in Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forensic entomology</span> Application of insect and other arthropod biology to forensics

Forensic entomology is the scientific study of the colonization of a dead body by arthropods. This includes the study of insect types commonly associated with cadavers, their respective life cycles, their ecological presences in a given environment, as well as the changes in insect assemblage with the progression of decomposition. Insect succession patterns are identified based on the time a given species of insect spends in a given developmental stage, and how many generations have been produced since the insects introduction to a given food source. Insect development alongside environmental data such as temperature and vapor density, can be used to estimate the time since death, due to the fact that flying insects are attracted to a body immediately after death. The identification of postmortem interval to aid in death investigations is the primary scope of this scientific field. However, forensic entomology is not limited to homicides, it has also been used in cases of neglect and abuse, in toxicology contexts to detect the presence of drugs, and in dry shelf food contamination incidents. Equally, insect assemblages present on a body, can be used to approximate a given location, as certain insects may be unique to certain areas. Therefore, forensic entomology can be divided into three subfields: urban, stored-product and medico-legal/medico-criminal entomology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silphidae</span> Family of beetles

Silphidae is a family of beetles that are known commonly as large carrion beetles, carrion beetles or burying beetles. There are two subfamilies: Silphinae and Nicrophorinae. Nicrophorines are sometimes known as sexton beetles. The number of species is relatively small at around two hundred. They are more diverse in the temperate region although a few tropical endemics are known. Both subfamilies feed on decaying organic matter such as dead animals. The subfamilies differ in which uses parental care and which types of carcasses they prefer. Silphidae are considered to be of importance to forensic entomologists because when they are found on a decaying body they are used to help estimate a post-mortem interval.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maggot</span> Larva of a fly

A maggot is the larva of a fly ; it is applied in particular to the larvae of Brachycera flies, such as houseflies, cheese flies, and blowflies, rather than larvae of the Nematocera, such as mosquitoes and crane flies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Histeridae</span> Family of beetles

Histeridae is a family of beetles commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles. This very diverse group of beetles contains 3,900 species found worldwide. They can be easily identified by their shortened elytra that leaves two of the seven tergites exposed, and their geniculate (elbowed) antennae with clubbed ends. These predatory feeders are most active at night and will fake death if they feel threatened. This family of beetles will occupy almost any kind of niche throughout the world. Hister beetles have proved useful during forensic investigations to help in time of death estimation. Also, certain species are used in the control of livestock pests that infest dung and to control houseflies. Because they are predacious and will even eat other hister beetles, they must be isolated when collected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trogidae</span> Family of beetles

Trogidae, sometimes called hide beetles, is a family of beetles with a distinctive warty or bumpy appearance. Found worldwide, the family includes about 300 species contained in four or five genera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleridae</span> Checkered beetles

Cleridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. They are commonly known as checkered beetles. The family Cleridae has a worldwide distribution, and a variety of habitats and feeding preferences.

Forensic entomological decomposition is how insects decompose and what that means for timing and information in criminal investigations. Medicolegal entomology is a branch of forensic entomology that applies the study of insects to criminal investigations, and is commonly used in death investigations for estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). One method of obtaining this estimate uses the time and pattern of arthropod colonization. This method will provide an estimation of the period of insect activity, which may or may not correlate exactly with the time of death. While insect successional data may not provide as accurate an estimate during the early stages of decomposition as developmental data, it is applicable for later decompositional stages and can be accurate for periods up to a few years.

<i>Nicrophorus vespilloides</i> Species of beetle

Nicrophorus vespilloides is a burying beetle described by Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst in 1783.

<i>Nicrophorus orbicollis</i> Species of beetle

Nicrophorus orbicollis is a nearctic burying beetle first described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is a member of the genus Nicrophorus or sexton beetles, comprising the most common beetles in the family Silphidae. This species is a decomposer feeding on carcasses of small dead animals. N. orbicollis can be used for scientific research both medically and forensically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American carrion beetle</span> Species of beetle

The American carrion beetle is a North American beetle of the family Silphidae. It lays its eggs in, and its larvae consume, raw flesh and fungi. The larvae and adults also consume fly larvae and the larvae of other carrion beetles that compete for the same food sources as its larvae.

<i>Poecilochirus</i> Genus of mites

Poecilochirus is a Holarctic genus of mites in the family Parasitidae. They are relatively large and often found on rotting corpses, where they are transported by beetles. Deuteronymphs are characterized by two orange dorsal shields and in many species a transverse band on the sternal shield. The juvenile development consists of a larval stage, protonymph, and deuteronymph, but no tritonymph. Females are smaller than males. Males guard female deuteronymphs shortly before these mate, and pairs mate venter-to-venter.

<i>Oiceoptoma noveboracense</i> Species of beetle

Oiceoptoma noveboracense is a member of the family Silphidae, or carrion beetles, which feed on decaying organic matter such as dead animals. Its common name is the margined carrion beetle, from the orange-red margins on the pronotum, which are helpful when identifying this species. The larva is typically light brown to red and also has vertical ridges on its thorax like the adult. This diurnal beetle can be found mainly in the spring into the fall, and it has a strong preference towards a deciduous forest habitat. The primary forensic importance of this beetle is its ability to use the succession of insect fauna to provide confirmation of postmortem intervals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrion insects</span>

Carrion insects are those insects associated with decomposing remains. The processes of decomposition begin within a few minutes of death. Decomposing remains offer a temporary, changing site of concentrated resources which are exploited by a wide range of organisms, of which arthropods are often the first to arrive and the predominant exploitive group. However, not all arthropods found on or near decomposing remains will have an active role in the decay process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George McGavin</span>

George C. McGavin is a British entomologist, author, academic, television presenter and explorer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Beath</span> British photographer and botanist (1960–2013)

David Daniel Nicholas Beath was a British landscape and wildlife photographer and botanist. He was renowned for his images of Scottish, Welsh and Shropshire flora and fauna, in particular butterflies and fungi.

Amoret Whitaker is a forensic entomologist in the UK.

Tim Cockerill FRES is an zoologist, broadcaster and photographer in the UK, he is Senior Lecturer at Falmouth University and has a particular interest in Insects.

<i>Diamesus osculans</i> Species of beetle

Diamesus osculans, is a species of carrion beetle found in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos, China, Australia.

<i>Necrophila rufithorax</i> Species of beetle

Necrophila (Deutosilpha) rufithorax, is a species of carrion beetle found in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The species also known to live in Laos and Thailand, but might be another species.

<i>Oiceoptoma thoracicum</i> Species of carrion beetle

Oiceoptoma thoracicum, the red-breasted carrion beetle, is a species of carrion beetle in the family Silphidae. It is found in the Palearctic. As a carrion beetle, this species is a generalist that can have importance in forensic entomology. Larval survival to adulthood occurs most often if the beetles are fed pork compared to beef or chicken.

References

  1. ↑ "Ashleigh Whiffin, BSc (Hons) Forensic Science, 2012". www.derby.ac.uk. University of Derby. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Research Group Moorad Lab". moorad.bio.ed.ac.uk. University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Ashleigh Whiffin". www.nms.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Barnes, Kate; Whiffin, Ashleigh; Bulling, Mark (1 June 2019). "A preliminary study on the antibacterial activity and insect repellent properties of embalming fluids from the 18th Dynasty (1550–1292 BCE) in ancient Egypt". Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 25: 600–609. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.05.032. ISSN   2352-409X. S2CID   194368758 . Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  5. ↑ Coleman, Max (26 June 2019). "Scent of seduction". stories.rbge.org.uk. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  6. ↑ Shaw, MR; Horstmann, K; Whiffin, AL (January 2016). "Two hundred and twenty-five species of reared western Palaearctic Campopleginae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in the National Museums of Scotland, with descriptions of new species of Campoplex and Diadegma, and records of fifty-five species new to Britain". Entomologists Gazette. 67: 177–222. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "National Training Programme: Introduction to the Care of Entomology Collections" (PDF). www.afnms.org. National Museums Scotland. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Silphidae Recording Scheme". www.coleoptera.org.uk. UK Beetle Recording. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Kaminski, Isabella (10 April 2021). "A bug's life: how a volunteer army is putting Britain's wildlife on the record". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Discover 8 carrion beetles you should look out for". Discover Wildlife. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  11. ↑ Lane, S. A.; Lucas, C.B.H.; Whiffin, A.L. (2020). The Histeridae, Sphaeritidae and Silphidae of Britain and Ireland (1st ed.). Field Studies Council. ISBN   9781906698706.
  12. ↑ Lessard, Bryan D.; Whiffin, Ashleigh L.; Wild, Andrea L. (September 2017). "A Guide to Public Engagement for Entomological Collections and Natural History Museums in the Age of Social Media". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 110 (5): 467–479. doi: 10.1093/aesa/sax058 . Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  13. ↑ Burns, Janice (13 May 2017). "Call to come and see Loch Leven's giant swarm of midges". The National. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  14. ↑ Brown, Angie (12 May 2017). "Experts rush to huge midge swarm at Loch Leven". BBC News. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "Maths at the museum: contributing to conservation". www.mathsweek.scot/. Maths Week Scotland. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  16. ↑ "Ep37 – Entomology + Carrion Beetles with Ash Whiffin". www.uk-wildlife.co.uk. UK Wildlife Podcast. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  17. ↑ "Introduction to Beetles with Ashleigh Whiffin". Eventbrite. Buglife. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  18. ↑ "Edinburgh Natural History Society". www.edinburghnaturalhistorysociety.org.uk. Edinburgh Natural History Society. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  19. ↑ "Over 150 delegates return to Harper Adams for entomology conference". www.harper-adams.ac.uk/. Harper Adams University. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  20. ↑ "Discussion online 'Sharing stories in Entomology: from Edinburgh to Kampala'". www.insectweek.co.uk. Royal Entomological Society. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "Royal Entomological Society: Discovering the miniature safari all around us". www.prnewswire.co.uk. PR Newswire. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  22. ↑ "Committees". Royal Entomological Society. Royal Entomological Society. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  23. ↑ "Winterwatch 2023 - Meet the presenters and find out more about this season's live cameras and pre-filmed stories". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
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