Close-up of a fly on flower stamens
© Alberto Ghizzi Panizza/Getty Images
Close-up of a fly on flower stamens
No, that’s not a sci-fi character, but a member of the order Diptera, commonly known as a fly. Flies are often overlooked as pollinators and help to fertilise a variety of wild and cultivated plants, including the flowering cocoa tree. That means flies help keep the shops stocked with chocolate. And any fly that helps to maintain a steady supply of chocolate is just the bee’s knees in our book. What’s more, flies aid in decomposition of plant matter and control other pests. That’s quite a contribution for a species that’s mainly known as an annoyance.
Related Images
Lake Dobson in Mount Field National Park of Tasmania
Meditation domes at the Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh, India
Leopard snoozing in a tree in Namibia
Grapes on the vine in Mendoza, Argentina, for the National Grape Harvest Festival
Black-crested titmouse in Texas Hill Country
Aerial shot of mangroves at King Sound, Western Australia
A Komondor competes in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City
A baobab grove near Bandia Wildlife Reserve in Senegal
Bing Today Images
Adler Planetarium, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Jul 27, 2021
A numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) in Australia
Jul 27, 2020
Castelluccio in Monti Sibillini National Park, Italy
Jul 27, 2016
