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)
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 MAP
Adaptations and environments. Lifestyles and diversity of mites. MAP
Life styles
14:00 – 17:00
Practicals (PP): Sampling, processing samples, preparing mites for identification. MAP, MSB, HRB
Day 2, Tuesday, 2 June
09:00 – 12:00 (w/coffee break)
LL: Introduction to Acarology: Part 2
Soil mites. MSB
Taxonomy, Orders, identification skills. MAP
Mites and humans
14:00 – 17:00
PP: Session 1 on identification of taxa of forensic importance. Mesostigmata. MAP, MSB
Day 3, Wednesday, 3 June
09:00 – 12:00 (w/coffee break)
LL: Introduction to Forensic Acarology
Mites with or without corpses. Mites and humans. MAP
Mites/Arthropods of stored products, as pests. Forensic ticks. MSB
14:00 – 17:00
PP: Session 2 on identification of taxa of forensic importance. Astigmata. MAP, MSB
Day 4, Thursday, 4 June
09:00 – 12:00 (w/coffee break)
LL: Introduction to Acarology: Part 3
Molecular acarology. HRB
14:00 – 17:00
PP: Session 3 on identification of taxa of forensic importance. MAP, MSB
Day 5, Friday, 5 June
09:00 – 12:00 (w/coffee break)
LL: Forensic acarology, case-work (cases and potential cases). MAP, MSB. HRB
14:00 – 16:00
Seminar: Working in groups. MAP, MSB. HRB
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.