Service
In relation to the business activity, the Animal Identification Service (SIA) enables a quality service to be provided to customers and to business. This is achieved by identifying animals (insects, mites, nematodes, flatworms, protozoa, etc.) that cause damage to food products (flour, nuts, meat, fish, etc.) or others susceptible to animal infestation (crops, wood, etc.).
In the event of a complaint, it shows the customer that business is serious and that it responds with an external report.
In the domestic sphere it is mainly a toolof Education, allowing to answer questions that any person asks when faced with the appearance of strange animals, abundant, or that have caused some damage subject. Knowledge of the biology of animals, once identified by an expert, makes it possible to answer questions about the reason for the appearance of an animal, and even to solve problems that it may cause in the future.
In a good percentage of cases, expert identification - which involves being able to know the biological cycle of the animal - makes it possible to know at what point in the production or consumption chain an infestation has occurred. Normally, the response required by companies requesting this service is to know whether the "problem" has started on their premises or at the customer's home.
It is known for using the insects that feed on a corpse to assist in the researchof a crime. However, this is not its only application, but only the medico-legal areaof forensic entomology. In the urban environment, it studies insects present in cities, the presence of species that are particularly important for some reason in a given region or country, and pests in stored products, an area of enormous economic importance.
This service forms part of the portfolio of services offered between 1991 and 2014 by the high schoolde Biología Aplicada (IBA), integrated in the activity of researchof the School de Ciencias. Since then, more than 800 reports have been produced for companies, technology centres and individuals.