Introduction to Forensic Acarology;
offering an insight into the biology of the Acari of forensic importance, how to collect acarological traces and taxonomic tools for identification
1 – 5 June 2026
School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
M Alejandra Perotti
Invited Lecturers, Marta Saloña-Bordas (UPV, Spain) and Henk R. Braig (UNSJ, Argentina)
tentative Programme
Arrival: Sunday, 31 May 2026
Day 1, Monday, 1 June
09:00 – 12:00 (w/coffee break)
Lectures (LL): Introduction to Acarology: Part 1
What mites are
Adaptations and environments
Life styles
14:00 – 17:00
Practicals (PP): Sampling, processing samples
Day 2, Tuesday, 2 June
09:00 – 12:00 (w/coffee break)
LL: Introduction to Acarology: Part 2
Diversity of mites
Soil mites
Taxonomy, Orders. IDs of taxa of forensically important species
Mites and humans
14:00 – 17:00
PP: Preparing mites for ID, preparing tapes on noses for Demodex next day
Day 3, Wednesday, 3 June
09:00 – 12:00 (w/coffee break)
LL: Introduction to Forensic Acarology
Mites with or without corpses
Mites of stored products, as pests, …
Forensic ticks
14:00 – 17:00
PP: Microscopy, mite identifications, if time allows: your own Demodex
Day 4, Thursday, 4 June
09:00 – 12:00 (w/coffee break)
LL: Introduction to Acarology: Part 3
Molecular acarology
14:00 – 17:00
PP: The mites from the socks: socks from a crime scene…
Day 5, Friday, 5 June
09:00 – 12:00 (w/coffee break)
LL: Forensic acarology, case-work (cases and potential cases)
14:00 – 16:00
Seminar: Working in groups… to be organised
16:00 – 17:00
PP: Surprise!
19:00
Workshop dinner
Departure: Saturday, 6 June
Logistics
Accommodation
Options
Sure Hotel, ~ 20-minute walking distance from the venue
Premier Inn, you might want to use the stops for the 20-21 buses on London St around the corner
Ibis Reading Centre, just walk to the train station and the buses as in the map below
Airport to Reading
Reaching University of Reading
From downtown, take the bus 20 or 21 which brings you to the University, leave at stop Whiteknights House.
You can pay with phone or cards on the bus.
Via RailAir buses if coming from Heathrow to Reading Railway station/RailAir
https://www.railair.com check timetables and stops at airport! At walking distance from airport exit. When exiting look for the sign for BUSES. Pay at the bus, you can buy return tickets.
Then walk to the Cole Museum of Zoology about 8 minutes, there is a cafeteria called Trilobite where we can meet at arrival on Monday (to be confirm). The Cole Museum is in the same building as the workshop, HLS bld.
Lecture and Practical Rooms to be confirmed soon.