A case of Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera, Calliphoridae) breeding in a human corpse in Calabria (southern Italy)

Forensic entomology is the study of insects associated with human corpses. The most common and widely accepted application of entomological evidence in criminal investigations is to determine the post-mortem interval (PMI), i.e. the time from death to discovery of the corpse, and other circumstances of the crime scene. The insects that first colonize a human corpse usually belong to the families Calliphoridae,Sarcophagidae and Muscidae, and often are very important elements in forensic investigation.The aim of this study was to highlight the importance of evaluating forensic evidence on a regional and urban scale. To assess the climatic, geographical and environmental influences on carrion-breeding fauna,we present details of a case in Calabria (southern Italy) in February 2007. The entomological evidenceconsisted only of Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830. The presence of this species is related tothe climatic and micro-environmental conditions in the urban habitat of Cosenza, southern Italy, and to the location and status of the cadaver.