What if flies were… super? That’s the subject of Jonathan Balcombe’s book Super Fly: The Unexpected Lives of the World’s Most Successful Insects. This work, which has not yet been translated into French, offers a scholarly and surprising rehabilitation of these insects, which are often reduced to pests. After “What Do Fish Think About? ” Balcombe now turns his attention to one of the most unloved creatures in the animal kingdom: the fly. And he does so brilliantly.
Through an entertaining mix of personal anecdotes, scientific discoveries and little-known stories, the author reveals the hidden side of these insects: their intelligence, their diversity and their crucial role for our planet.
Why are flies (really) great?
Impressive diversity
There are approximately 160,000 known species of flies, and this figure is probably well below the actual number. Their abundance is such that it is estimated that there are 17 million flies for every human being on Earth. They are everywhere, and they play a role that we have long underestimated.
An incredible evolutionary success
They have been flying for 150 million years, long before most other flying animals. Their anatomy is a marvel of engineering: hovering, instant escape (reaction time of 0.1 seconds!), wing system with clutch… Their compound eyes, meanwhile, put even our most sophisticated cameras to shame.
Fascinating (and sometimes extravagant) behaviours
Amazing life cycle
Flies also undergo a variety of metamorphoses. Some species of mountain gnats live for just two hours. Others are formidable carnivores. For example, an Amazonian gnat feeds exclusively on termites captured by spiders.
Unusual sexual practices
Mating that lasts 56 hours, penises as long as the male’s body, spermatozoa over 6 cm long – records in all categories. Some species even sort spermatozoa after mating. And in the absence of partners? Some flies turn to alcohol…
A major ecological role
Cleaners in the shadows
Maggots, the larvae of flies, are champions of organic recycling. They can be used in the production of industrial compost. Their sense of smell is so acute that they can detect a carcass from 65 km away.
Discreet but effective pollinators
In cold environments, it is not bees but flies that ensure pollination.
Some rare plants, such as the cacao tree, cannot reproduce without the ‘chocolate midge’. Mangoes, coriander, carrots… More than 100 food crops rely heavily on flies for their fruit and seed production… their presence is essential.
Essential links in the food chain
They feed a multitude of animals: birds, bats, spiders, fish… A pillar of biodiversity.
Between science, medicine and devastation
Laboratory models
Drosophila, the little fly well known to researchers, is the star of genetics. It helps us understand memory, sleep, and even the mechanisms of evolution.
Forensic medicine
Species such as the flesh fly and the bluebottle fly are valuable forensic assistants. They can be used to estimate the time of death, sometimes to the hour. This technique dates back to 10th-century China!
Deadly pests
On the dark side, mosquitoes, which belong to the fly order, are the world’s deadliest animals. They are responsible for 2 million deaths per year, and probably more than 50 billion in human history.
Sentience, emotions… and ethics
Balcombe tackles a controversial subject: the sentience of flies. Some research suggests that they can feel pain, frustration, or even a form of pleasure. Faced with this data, an ethical reflection is necessary: can we continue to swat them without thinking twice?
An entomological ode to discover
With Super Fly, Jonathan Balcombe has written a fascinating, funny and engaging book. He encourages us to question our instinctive disgust for flies and to recognise their intelligence, complexity and ecological importance.
This book is much more than a plea for insects: it is an invitation to change our view of living things. And to understand that even the smallest – and most hated – can be heroes of biodiversity.
