A geometric morphometric analysis of wing variations in shape and size of the blue bottle fly, Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

A geometric morphometric analysis was performed on the right wing of adult Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) collected across 4 altitudinal levels in Sicily. The objective of this study was to assess differences in shape and centroid size (CS) between females and males and across elevations. The wings analyzed in this study were removed from adults of C.

Assessment of Fungal Succession in Decomposing Swine Carcasses ( L.) Using DNA Metabarcoding.

The decomposition of animal bodies is a process defined by specific stages, described by the state of the body and participation of certain guilds of invertebrates and microorganisms. While the participation of invertebrates in decomposing is well-studied and actively used in crime scene investigations, information on bacteria and fungi from the scene is rarely collected or used in the identification of important factors such as estimated time of death. Modern molecular techniques such as DNA metabarcoding allow the identification and quantification of the composition of microbial communities.

Identifying unknown specimens using predictive phylogenies for remote forensic education.

One significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for educators in forensic science was adapting what is traditionally a very applied field to a virtual learning environment. Because of this, science classes with a practical laboratory component had to implement significant adjustments to ensure that student learning objectives were still met, including practical elements. To provide learners with an alternative to a traditional lab exercise in forensic entomology, we designed an exercise to be conducted completely remotely to instruct students in how to identify a real unknown specimen using a hypothetical phylogenetic tree they create.

Review of Molecular Identification Techniques for Forensically Important Diptera.

The medico-legal section of forensic entomology focuses on the analysis of insects associated with a corpse. Such insects are identified, and their life history characteristics are evaluated to provide information related to the corpse, such as postmortem interval and time of colonization. Forensically important insects are commonly identified using dichotomous keys, which rely on morphological characteristics.

First Observations of Initial Blow Fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Activity on Lava Fields and in Subterranean Environments in Sicily in Cool Temperatures.

In criminal cases involving the recovery of human remains, as well as in cases of myiasis and pest management, the expertise of a forensic entomologist has been requested more and more frequently in Sicily. Recently, research on the insect species of forensic interest in Sicily has been investigated. The aim of this research was to raise awareness of this discipline and to build a Sicilian entomofauna checklist during cool temperatures.

Evaluation of bait traps as a means to predict initial blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) communities associated with decomposing swine remains in New Jersey, USA.

Information about blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) species distributions can be valuable for criminal investigations, with regards to determining movement of remains from one location to another and time of colonization estimates, making these data extremely useful. Past work has been conducted on initial species community structure across New Jersey, USA using traps baited with beef liver; however, if these same species frequent vertebrate carrion remains unclear. In order to evaluate these data, piglet carcasses were placed out once every two weeks for a year in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.