The Secret Life of Flies

Erica McAlister

Natural History Museum

'A short, rich book by turns informative and humorous... a hymn of praise to her favourite creatures and a gleeful attempt to give readers the willies.' The New York Times 'After reading her book it is obvious: flies rock.' The Spectator Enter a hidden world of snail killers, silly names and crazy sex in The Secret Life of Flies. Entomolologist Erica McAlister dispels many common misconceptions and reveals how truly amazing, exotic and important these creatures really are. From hungry herbivores and precocious pollinators to robberflies, danceflies and the much maligned mosquito, McAlister describes the different types of fly, their unique and often unusual characteristics, and the unpredictable nature of their daily life. She travels from the drawers of wonder at the Natural History Museum, to piles of poo in Ethiopia, via underground caves, smelly latrines and the English country garden. She discovers flies without wings, rotating genitalia and the terrible hairy fly, while pausing along the way to consider today s key issues of conservation, taxonomy, forensic entomology and climate change. 'Pure delight. McAlister tells fly stories with such affection and familiarity that it seems as if she is sharing secrets about her own raucous extended family full of bizarre, outrageous, and sometimes slightly evil characters.' American Entomologist

The Secret Life of Flies (Paperback)

Science & Math

Biological Sciences

The Natural History Museum

The Inside Out of Flies is a look under the bonnet at the astonishing mechanics of fly anatomy. Erica McAlister reveals the engineering miracles embodied in numerous species of fly and some of the fascinating implications they hold for human technology. Discover the physics of the mysterious ‘scuba diving fly’, marvel at the venomous horse fly larvae which prey on frogs, and glimpse the golden ratio in these creatures’ spiral flight patterns. McAlister touches on the emerging field of biomimetics – the study of evolutionary adaptations to devise new technology – and anticipates everything from medical needles based on the mosquito’s proboscis to hearing aids inspired by Ormia ochracea, a tiny fly with ears on its thorax. At every juncture she uncovers unique and surprising science lessons encapsulated in the form and function of the humble fly.

The Inside Out of Flies

Metamorposis: How Insects Are Changing Our World

Adrian Washbourne

Natural History Museum Publications

Firefly Books

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Books by Erica McAlister