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
Ruff male displaying on Varanger Peninsula in Norway
Ocean Drive in Miami, Florida
The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China
Aerial shot of mangroves at King Sound, Western Australia
Contemporary ballet 'Tree of Codes' comes to Sydney Festival 2018
Grey-crowned cranes forming a heart shape
A European goldfinch perched among rosehips in snow
Members of the Wild Red Flame Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans, Louisiana
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
