South Africa has a shortage of forensic entomologists, Prof. Theuns van der Linde of the Department Zoology and Entomology at the University of the Free State (UFS) said in his inaugural lecture as full professor this week. He is one of only two practising forensic entomologists in South Africa. Forensic entomology is among others used in the solving of murder cases, suicide cases, rape and these days also transito robberies. The theme of his lecture was: “The detective was an insect - a short overview of forensic entomology”. At the lecture were, from the left: Prof. Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor), Prof. Van der Linde, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences) and Prof. Jo van As (head of the Department of Zoology and Entomology).
Photo: Stephen Collett