Platystomatidae species Platystoma gemmationis (Rondani 1869), P lugubre (Robineau-Desvoidy 1830) and P seminationis (Fabricius 1775) are reported as elements of the necrophagous/saprophagous fly assemblage in rural and natural habitats in southern Italy. Although the role of Platystoma spp as forensic indicators remains unknown, individuals of Platystoma spp were also observed and collected on pig carcasses in our previous decomposition studies in the same geographical area. High occurrence of signal flies in bait traps in Calabria and new data about their habitat preference and phenology are reported here for the first time.