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.

The biodiversity of wild bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in southern Italy—particularly in Calabria and Basilicata—remains poorly documented despite the region’s high species richness. This study addresses this gap by assessing bee fauna through field surveys conducted across diverse habitats, including national parks, reserves, and agroecosystems, between 2016 and 2023. Bees were collected using hand nets or traps, and DNA barcoding was applied to 63 specimens to support species identification. A total of 223 species were recorded, including 10 new records for Basilicata, 57 for Calabria, 20 for southern Italy, 3 for the Italian mainland, and 1 for Italy, Eucera (Eucera) colaris Dours, 1873 (Apidae). The results reveal the unexpected presence of several central European species in mountainous areas of southern Italy, co-occurring with Mediterranean taxa. These findings indicate that these regions act as important refugia for species from both Mediterranean and Central European biogeographic zones, contributing to high regional diversity. DNA barcoding also revealed notable genetic divergence in several species compared to other European populations, highlighting the uniqueness of southern Italian bee fauna. Continuous monitoring and habitat protection are urgently needed in light of agricultural intensification and climate change.

Daniel Whitmore was not included as an author in the original publication