Really enjoyed this write-up — especially the reminder that flies aren’t just nuisances but key players in pollination, decomposition, and even natural pest control (the Tachinid fly example was excellent).
In my line of work we often see the “problem side” of insects, but it’s just as important to recognize the balance they provide. Responsible pest management isn’t about wiping species out — it’s about protecting health and property while respecting the role insects play in the bigger ecosystem. Your piece captured that balance really well.
Excellent article! Flies are much maligned and misunderstood. Hoverflies and bee flies are among my favourite groups of insects. (We have about 250 species of hoverfly in the UK and I've seen and identified around 30 of them in the wild, though some I can't identify right down to species level).
I think the book was this ... "The book you’re thinking of is The Fly Trap by Swedish author Fredrik Sjöberg. It’s a memoir that follows his life on the tiny island of Runmarö in the Stockholm archipelago and his fascination with collecting and studying hoverflies." (AI does have its uses !!) QUOTE: A mesmerizing memoir of extraordinary brilliance by an entomologist, The Fly Trap chronicles Fredrik Sjöberg's life collecting hoverflies on a remote island in Sweden. Warm and humorous, self-deprecating and contemplative, and a major best seller in its native country, The Fly Trap is a meditation on the unexpected beauty of small things and an exploration of the history of entomology itself.
What drives the obsessive curiosity of collectors to catalog their finds? What is the importance of the hoverfly? As confounded by his unusual vocation as anyone, Sjöberg reflects on a range of ideas—the passage of time, art, lost loves—drawing on sources as disparate as D. H. Lawrence and the fascinating and nearly forgotten naturalist René Edmond Malaise. From the wilderness of Kamchatka to the loneliness of the Swedish isle he calls home, Sjöberg revels in the wonder of the natural world and leaves behind a trail of memorable images and stories.
I am afraid that I can’t recall the author, but several years ago I read a book by a Swedish author about time living on an island off Stockholm and becoming fascinated by the many hoverfly species on the island with him and setting out to identify them all.
Really enjoyed this write-up — especially the reminder that flies aren’t just nuisances but key players in pollination, decomposition, and even natural pest control (the Tachinid fly example was excellent).
In my line of work we often see the “problem side” of insects, but it’s just as important to recognize the balance they provide. Responsible pest management isn’t about wiping species out — it’s about protecting health and property while respecting the role insects play in the bigger ecosystem. Your piece captured that balance really well.
Thank you - that's important for people to understand. If I needed pest control you'd probably get the job 🙂
Excellent article! Flies are much maligned and misunderstood. Hoverflies and bee flies are among my favourite groups of insects. (We have about 250 species of hoverfly in the UK and I've seen and identified around 30 of them in the wild, though some I can't identify right down to species level).
I think the book was this ... "The book you’re thinking of is The Fly Trap by Swedish author Fredrik Sjöberg. It’s a memoir that follows his life on the tiny island of Runmarö in the Stockholm archipelago and his fascination with collecting and studying hoverflies." (AI does have its uses !!) QUOTE: A mesmerizing memoir of extraordinary brilliance by an entomologist, The Fly Trap chronicles Fredrik Sjöberg's life collecting hoverflies on a remote island in Sweden. Warm and humorous, self-deprecating and contemplative, and a major best seller in its native country, The Fly Trap is a meditation on the unexpected beauty of small things and an exploration of the history of entomology itself.
What drives the obsessive curiosity of collectors to catalog their finds? What is the importance of the hoverfly? As confounded by his unusual vocation as anyone, Sjöberg reflects on a range of ideas—the passage of time, art, lost loves—drawing on sources as disparate as D. H. Lawrence and the fascinating and nearly forgotten naturalist René Edmond Malaise. From the wilderness of Kamchatka to the loneliness of the Swedish isle he calls home, Sjöberg revels in the wonder of the natural world and leaves behind a trail of memorable images and stories.
Oh that sounds wonderful, I'll definitely need to look out for that one!
I am afraid that I can’t recall the author, but several years ago I read a book by a Swedish author about time living on an island off Stockholm and becoming fascinated by the many hoverfly species on the island with him and setting out to identify them all.
A very helpful introduction to the world of flies, thank you. Looking forward to the next episode on other insects.