We’re going to make 2025 the “Year of the Pollinator” (well, every year should be about pollinators because we like to eat, right?), and there are so many favorites that come to mind: bees and butterflies are the most obvious. The one group we’d like to highlight at the beginning of the year as we turn over a new leaf, and maybe a fresh perspective, is the flies, in the taxonomic order Diptera. We may think they are annoying, gross or just plain scary (mosquitoes are a type of fly!), but the flies are critical parts of the ecosystem. Let’s explore the many roles they play in nature.

Decomposers

Anything that needs to be “broken down” is food for decomposers, the custodians of the biosphere. Maggots, the larval or juvenile form of flies (and bees and wasps!) are not everyone’s favorite organism to contemplate. Yet, these voracious eaters help breakdown dead tissue, fecal matter and other decaying plant material, and recycle the nutrients back into the ecosystem. Not all maggots eat the rotting flesh of animals. Some maggots feed on plant tissues, fruits, and mushrooms. As flies consume organic matter, they break it down into simpler compounds. These compounds are then released back into the environment, enriching the soil and providing nutrients for plant growth. We love it when earthworms do this, so let’s celebrate that maggots do it too!

Pollinators

Flies, often overlooked, play a significant role as pollinators in the ecosystem. While bees often get the most attention, flies are vital contributors to pollination. Their diverse feeding habits and abundance make them crucial for the health and stability of many ecosystems. Many fly species, particularly bee mimics like hoverflies (Syrphidae) and bee-flies (Bombyliidae), are attracted to flowers for nectar and pollen. As flies feed on nectar, pollen grains adhere to their bodies – on their legs, wings, and mouthparts. When they visit subsequent flowers, some of this pollen is transferred, enabling fertilization and seed production. Flies pollinate a wide variety of plants, including many that are less attractive to bees. This diversity is crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems. Flies are particularly important pollinators for certain crops, such as onions, carrots, and some berries.

Parasites

We never like to think of ourselves as food, but flies in their larval and adult stages can function as parasites. Parasitism is a complex ecological interaction with both positive and negative consequences. By regulating populations, increasing biodiversity, and influencing nutrient cycling, parasites play a vital role in maintaining the balance and stability of ecosystems. One of the coolest stories that I will share later in the year is about the can-opener flies! Stay tuned!

Foundation of the Food Web

Fly larvae and adults serve as a food source for other animals, such as birds, spiders, and other insects. They can produce prolific amounts of offspring each generation because of this anticipation of most of them being eaten! This helps maintain the balance of the food web. We may be annoyed or frightened when we contemplate mosquitoes in the ecosystem, but they are a critical part of the local ecosystem and when they are not present many of the animals that rely on them for food also disappear (aka birds, bats and other insects!).

So, next time you see a fly resting on a flower, a mosquito larva squirming in the water, or a maggot chewing on rotting fruit, remember that the organism is providing a vital ecosystem service to you, your garden, and your local ecosystem. You don’t need to tolerate the mosquitos (get some mosquito dunks and pour out any standing water you can!), but don’t let the “ick” factor cause you to act in every case. Live and let live. Flies are the good guys (most of the time!).

Amanda Bratcher is the Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.