Forensic entomology is used in criminal investigations for post-mortem dating of cadavers. Our study aimed at examining the endogenous knowledge of necrophagous insects of six target groups of workers in two climatic zones of Burkina Faso for their application in criminal investigations, from exhumed and exposed corpses to the air. The survey was conducted among 223 informants splited in six target groups in four cities and eight villages belonging to Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian climatic zones. Chi-square tests and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed to check for species diversity distributions significant differences in knowledge and climatic zones of study. The different phases of insect succession on post-mortem corpses were noted. The results showed that knowledge of the species varies from one species to another. The most cited species belong to the Calliphoridae (Diptera) family. Their larvae and pupae are present on open corpses at a frequency of 16.36%. On the other hand, Astrapaeus sp (Coleoptera) was found at 32.25% on the exhumed corpses. The citation of species also varied according to locality climatic zone and function of the informants. Traditional funeral workers and gravediggers cited more species than other justice actors. The species of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedmann, 1819), Chrysomya sp. and Lucilia sp. are species found to be specific to the West African area and were mentioned for the first time in Burkina Faso. The knowledge of necrophagous insects by the informants in this survey opens new perspectives for entomological expertise in criminal investigations in Burkina Faso

Forensic entomology necrophagous insects exhumed corpses open corpses