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Ecological Preferences of Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae (Diptera) in the Region Calabria (Southern Italy)
by
, , , , , , and
Domenico Bonelli
1
,
Federica Mendicino
1
,
Francesco Carlomagno
1
,
Giuseppe Luzzi
2,
Antonino Siclari
3,
Federica Fumo
1,
Erica Di Biase
1
,
Michele Mistri
4
,
Cristina Munari
4,
Marco Pezzi
4,* and
Teresa Bonacci
1,5
1
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
2
Ente Parco Nazionale Lucano, Val d’Agri-Lagonegrese, Via Manzoni, 1, 85052 Marsico Nuovo, Italy
3
Città Metropolitana di Reggio Calabria, Piazza Italia, 89100 Reggio Calabria, Italy
4
Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
5
Sistema Museale Universitario—SiMU, Sezione di Zoologia, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2025, 16(9), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16090886 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 18 July 2025
/
Revised: 20 August 2025
/
Accepted: 21 August 2025
/
Published: 25 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances on Conservation of Biodiversity, Monitoring Programs and Trend Assessment)
Simple Summary
Several trophic preferences have been described among Diptera belonging to the families Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae, including necrophagous, saprophagous, and sometimes parasitic habits. Some species are of forensic and medical-veterinary importance, and among them, some exhibit synanthropic behavior, frequenting urban areas, livestock, and waste. A study on distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of species of Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae was conducted in areas located in the Region Calabria (Southern Italy), including Aspromonte National Park, Sila National Park, Natural Regional Park of Serre, and a suburban area at the University of Calabria (Rende, Cosenza, Italy). A total of 14 species of Calliphoridae and 35 species of Sarcophagidae were collected, providing new data on local ecological and phenological preferences of these two families.
Abstract
Diptera belonging to the families Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae are known for their diversified trophic preferences and for their forensic and medical-veterinary relevance. The ecological preferences (distribution, abundance and habitat) of these two families were investigated along four years in the Region Calabria (Southern Italy) in 17 sampling sites located in four areas: the Aspromonte National Park, the Sila National Park, the Natural Regional Park of Serre, and a suburban area at the University of Calabria (Rende, Cosenza, Italy). A total of 39,537 individuals were collected, with 36,253 belonging to 14 species of Calliphoridae and 3284 belonging to 35 species of Sarcophagidae. The most abundant species among Calliphoridae was Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758); among Sarcophagidae, it was Sarcophaga (Sarcophaga) croatica Baranov, 1941. The highest species richness and abundance of Calliphoridae were observed in forest areas and those of Sarcophagidae in open and humid environments. The results also show a close association between the distribution of both families and environmental factors such as altitude, vegetation type, season, and temperature.
Keywords:
Brachycera; community; Diptera; Italy; natural environment
