American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

Which factor does NOT contribute to maggot activity on a deceased body?

1. Climate

2. Temperature

3. Time of death

4. Type of clothing worn

The correct answer is: Type of clothing worn

The factor that does not contribute to maggot activity on a deceased body is the type of clothing worn. While the environment and conditions surrounding a body are critical for understanding how quickly and effectively decomposition progresses, the clothing itself has less impact on the presence of maggots. Maggots, which are the larvae of flies, are influenced primarily by external factors such as climate, temperature, and the elapsed time since death. High temperatures can speed up the rate of decomposition and encourage more rapid maggot development, while colder climates may slow it down. The time since death is crucial as it indicates how long the body has been exposed, which also influences the lifecycle stages of insects, including maggots. The type of clothing might affect the accessibility of the body to insects to some extent, but it does not inherently influence the maggot activity that is largely driven by the prevailing environmental conditions. Thus, while clothing might have some minor relevance, it does not directly determine the level or activity of maggots as the other factors do.