Forensic entomology and climatic change Margherita Turchetto * , Stefano Vanin Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita ` di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy Abstract Forensic entomology establishes the postmortem interval (PMI) by studying cadaveric fauna. The PMI today is still largely based on tables of insect succession on human cadavers compiled in the late 19th- or mid-20th centuries. In the last few years, however, the gradual warming of the climate has been changing faunal communities by favouring the presence of thermophilous species. To demonstrate how globalisation and climate change are overcoming geographic barriers, we present some cases of southern and allochthonous species found in north-east Italy during our entomo-forensic investiga- tions. # 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Arthropods; Global warming; Forensic entomology; Postmortem interval (PMI) 1. Introduction 1.1. Forensic entomology methods Forensic entomology is the science, which applies knowledge of insects (and other arthropods) to civil pro- ceedings and criminal trials. In the latter, study of cada- veric fauna is a valid method of establishing the time of death, and may support histological and chemical analyses and help police investigations. The main aim of forensic entomology is to establish the PMI (postmortem interval), i.e. the time, which has elapsed since death or, more exactly, how long a dead body has been exposed to the environment. Most of the invertebrate fauna found on corpses are insects, mostly Diptera (maggots) and Coleop- tera. They are selectively attracted by the decomposing status of the body, and form complex communities within necrophagous species and their predators, parasites and parasitoids. Rapid and continuous changes in the carrion micro-ecosystem do not allow a steady state or equilibrium to be reached among animal communities until decom- position. There is thus a series of faunal successions, which allow us to estimate when (and where) death occurred. Identification of species, knowledge of their life histories, duration of each stage with varying temperatures, and other abiotic factors allow us to establish the PMI with great precision. Evaluation of PMI is still largely based on the tables of faunal succession on human cadavers described by Me ´gnin [1] and Jonston and Villeneuve [2] in the 19th century, with changes proposed by other more recent authors, according to geographic region, latitude, ecosys- tem, climate, etc. In Europe, forensic entomology is well studied and has long been applied by entomologists in Great Britain and central-northern Europe, so that the tables of faunal successions mostly refer to continental species and insect’s life-cycles are calculated on the aver- age temperate climate. Instead, the Italian peninsula has both a subtropical-like (Mediterranean) climate along the coasts of the central-southern regions and a temperate/ continental one in the north (Po Plain and Alps) and along its mountain spine (Apennine chain). The typical fauna and arthropod successions therefore vary between the two regions and also the most widespread species have differ- ent life histories, according to environmental trends. The arthropod successional patterns in northern Italy may generally be compared with those of Europe, but a differ- ent situation arises for Mediterranean necrophagous fauna, www.elsevier.com/locate/forsciint Forensic Science International 146S (2004) S207–S209 * Corresponding author. E-mail address: margherita.turchetto@unipd.it (M. Turchetto). 0379-0738/$ – see front matter # 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.09.064