This blog is about flies, which make up an incredibly underappreciated 10% of the world’s biodiversity. I don’t intend to make it comprehensive, as there are lots of other websites that attempt to fulfill that goal. Rather, my aim is to convey how amazing, beautiful and interesting these creatures can be.
I am Curator of Entomology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where I have been working since 1993. My research is on systematics, taxonomy, phylogeny, and natural history of phorid flies, as well as biodiversity inventories, especially in tropical forests, but also in local backyards. I am also interested, as a hobbyist, in angraecoid orchids and backyard fruit growing.
Brian, this blog is amazing! I love it and am going to share it with all the GI staff!
Kristen Metzger
Thanks Kristin, I’m glad you like it.
Some experts blieeve a tiny mite from India could be killing the bees. Others say it could be something called Dwindling Hive Disease, seen on the east coast last summer, in which bees lose instinct and memory.Local agricultural officials aren’t ruling out pesticides as the cause but in both cases they are also looking at the possibility that a predatory mite has invaded these hives. The verroa mite can devastate a bee colony. But researchers say the cause may be simple malnutrition.Eric Mussen, UC Davis: We do know that if the bees aren’t well fed if the bees don’t get a good mix of quality pollen then they are weaker. There is also a chance that the losses in bee populations is a naturally occurring phenomenon. Similar to fluctuations in population have been documented in the 1960 s and the 70 s. Still state officials are keeping a watchful eye on the situation fearful it may become a permanent problem.
It could be a combination of factors, including the new phorid parasitoid, which at least doesn’t help the situation.
I’ve been reading about the phorid fly infecting and preying on honey bees and have just now collected three or four bees I found under the porch light this morning from a hive that is “in the shade” from the light and about 50 feet away. I have noticed a few headless dead bees here and there, hence the curiosity. Will report back if any phorids emerge from my corpses. The bees are recently installed package bees in east Texas.
Let me know, I would be interested!
You mentioned earlier that the Thai rainforest is crawling with leeches. Are there any flies that parasitize them?
Not that I know of, but many flies, especially phorids, have unknown life histories. Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone found a leech-parasitizing fly!