They may be drawn to decaying matter, but they’re also the unsung heroes of pollination.
Flies almost always get a bad rap. It’s no wonder as they’re attracted to decaying organic matter (gross!).
People don’t beam with joy when a common house fly buzzes past their ear. And then there’s the dreaded fruit fly infestations many of us deal with. Despite all that, flies really are the unsung heroes of pollination.
Many plants, like the famous corpse flower (Titan arum), are entirely reliant on flies for pollination and have adapted features to attract flies such as dark purple coloration and pungent scents to imitate carrion. Another well-known example of such a plant is the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). Its flowers face downward and emit a fungus-like odor to attract small flies, aka midges. (That guilty pleasure chocolate bar you love? Yup, you have midge flies to thank for that!)
While specific species such as the cacao tree or the mango tree are well documented as being pollinated by flies, recent evidence suggests that the number of plants pollinated by flies may be much larger than originally thought.
Previous studies about pollination have overlooked flies. But this is starting to change. According to a 2023 study conducted in central Texas, blow flies of at least six different species feed on pollen as a protein source for their developing eggs. They also seem to benefit from gathering a diverse array of pollen, visiting a multitude of plant species.
This means that — just like bees — they visit and incidentally pollinate many plants! But unlike bees, they’re often wider ranging since they’re not limited by proximity to a nest.
In Australia, research continues on whether flies can replace reliance on honeybees as a major pollinator for agricultural crops such as avocados, berries, cabbage and more.
Previously, I wrote an article about native bees and how they’re effective pollinators that evolved in tandem with the native plants in an area. Despite being very effective pollinators, they too are often forgotten due to the fame of the well-loved honeybee.
Flies, if anything, have an even worse reputation since they’re not considered pollinators at all — only pests.
