FliesPollinators and Flies The Eyes of Flies

Flies are one of those insects that everyone is familiar with, found in almost all terrestrial habitats in the world (apart from Antarctica). From the order Diptera (and including a number of suborders), they form one of the five most diverse orders of insects, with some 150,000 species that have been described across 150 families. In Australia, there is estimated to be some 30,000 flies, with only 6,400 having been described.1

Sarcophaga aurifrons (Grey-striped Fly), Alice Springs, NT
Sarcophaga aurifrons (Grey-striped Fly), Alice Springs, NT

Flies on the whole, are the second largest group of pollinators, after the Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and relatives). In certain habitats where it is a wetter and colder environment, flies are significantly more important as pollinators.2,3

Fly (genus Musca), Alice Springs NT

When you compared them with bees, flies require less food as they do not need to provide for their young. There are many flowers that bear low nectar and those that have evolved trap pollination that depend on flies. There are may fly species that are common visitors to flowers, including from the families Syrphidae (hoverflies), Bombyliidae (bee flies), and the Muscidae.

Balaana Beefly (Balaana abscondita), Alice Springs, NT
Balaana Beefly (Balaana abscondita), Alice Springs, NT

Australia has many fly species that are unique. Flies can be identified, in that they only have only one pair of functional wings. And most flies have mouthparts adapted for lapping or piercing and sucking.

Agapophytus yeatesi (Stiletto Fly), Alice Springs NT
Agapophytus yeatesi (Stiletto Fly), Alice Springs NT

An important group, flies have have ecological functions in the environment from nutrient recycling, predation, pollination, and their larvae are often parasitoids of other insects.

Drain Fly (Clogmia albipunctata)
Drain Fly (Clogmia albipunctata)

There are many interesting looking species of flies, of which some are considered a nuisance such as the bush fly (Musca vetustissima), mosquitoes, sandflies and blackflies.

A number of species of flies are responsible for the transmission of a wide variety of disease-causing micro-organisms in both humans and animals.

Steelblue Bluebottle (Chrysomya saffranea)
Steelblue Bluebottle (Chrysomya saffranea), Alice Springs, NT

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Superorder: Panorpida
  • (unranked): Antliophora
  • Order: Diptera
  • Suborder:
    • Brachycera
    • Nematocera
Fly on Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera), Alice Springs NT
Fly on Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera), Alice Springs NT

Footnote & References

  1. Flies, CSIRO, https://www.csiro.au/en/research/animals/insects/flies-research
  2. Fly, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly (last visited Nov. 13, 2022).
  3. Axel Ssymank, C. A. Kearns, Thomas Pape & F. Christian Thompson (2008) Pollinating Flies (Diptera): A major contribution to plant diversity and agricultural production, Biodiversity, 9:1-2, 86-89, DOI: 10.1080/14888386.2008.9712892
  4. What fly is that?, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia, https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/sites/gateway/files/Fly%20ID%20guide.pdf
  5. Diptera (Flies), Field Guide to the Insects of Tasmania, https://tasmanianinsectfieldguide.com/hexapoda/insectsoftasmaniadiptera/
  6. Decomposition: fly life cycle and development times, Australian Museum, https://australian.museum/learn/science/decomposition-fly-life-cycles/
  7. How Much Do Flies Help With Pollination?, by Stephanie Pain, Knowable, 8 March 2021, Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-much-do-flies-help-pollination-180977177/
  8. A spotter’s guide to Australian flies and their ‘great’ deeds despite a few serious pests, by Gavin McGrath, 10 Jan 2024, ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-10/spotters-guide-australian-flies-species-pests-and-good-deeds/103158802

FliesPollinators and Flies The Eyes of Flies

DipteraDiptera Index Flies Pollinators and Flies The Eyes of Flies Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) Australian Drain Fly Balaana Beefly Bat Flies Bee Flies Bee Fly (Anthrax) Australiphthiria Ligyra Neosardus cosmus Chrysomya saffranea Clogmia (Moth Fly) Eristalinus punctulatus Musca Odontomyia (Soldier Flies) Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) Robber Flies Sarcophaga aurifrons Soldier Fly Syrphidae Syrphids Common Halfband (Melangyna viridiceps) Yellow-shouldered Stout Hover Fly (Simosyrphus grandicornis)

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub