@article {23578, title = {Insects found on a human cadaver in central Italy including the blowfly Calliphora loewi (Diptera, Calliphoridae), a new species of forensic interest}, journal = {Forensic Science International}, volume = {207}, year = {2011}, pages = {e30-e33}, abstract = {

In the case of unidentified bodies the estimation of the period since death or of the season of death plays an important role to focus the attention on a reduced number of people among the ones reported missing. Forensic entomology can be one of the most important methods for these estimations, as occurred in this case. Flies are typically the first insects to colonize a dead body. The case reported here concerns the colonisation by insects of a male body in advanced decay found during the winter in Central Italy. This case is of particular interest as few data are available on the entomological evidence in the cold season. In particular, in this case we recovered Calliphora loewi (Calliphoridae), a species never collected before on dead bodies in Southern Europe. Larvae of the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Stratiomyidae), pupae and larvae belonging to genus Hydrothea (Muscidae), and Necrobia rufipes (Cleridae) specimens were also collected. The estimated PMI enabled identification of the cadaver, confirmed by DNA analysis.

}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.12.004}, author = {Stefano Vanin and Gherardi, M. and Bugelli, V. and Di Paolo, M.} } @article {23574, title = {Record of Leptometopa latipes (Diptera: Milichiidae) from a human cadaver in the Mediterranean area}, journal = {Forensic Sciences Research}, year = {2018}, pages = {1-7}, abstract = {

AbstractIn forensic entomology, insects are used mainly to obtain information about the time since death. This information is obtained studying the developmental rate of the first colonizers, principally species in the families Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Stratiomyidae and Phoridae. However, species belonging to other families can provide information about body transfer or the season of the death. Among them Milichiidae are flies rarely reported from human cases despite the larvae of some species are known as saprophagous feeding on plant and animal decomposing matter. A potential cause of the lack of records of these species from forensic cases can be related with the paucity of descriptions and illustrations of the immature stages. In this article, the entomological samples collected from a human body found inside an apartment in a Maghreb country, in Northern Africa, is reported and Leptometopa latipes (Diptera: Milichiidae) is described in detail. Molecular analysis is also reported to confirm the morphological analysis.

}, doi = {10.1080/20961790.2018.1490473}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2018.1490473}, author = {Giorgia Giordani and Fabiola Tuccia and Silvia Zoppis and Carla Vecchiotti and Stefano Vanin} }