The Secret Life of Flies
The Secret Life of Flies is an easy to read science book that opens a hidden world of snail killers, silly names and surprisingly crazy sex lives. Entomologist Erica McAlister dispels common misconceptions as she reveals how amazing, exotic and genuinely important these bothersome blueys really are.
Across ten lively chapters McAlister, an entomologist at the Natural History Museum in London, gets under the wings of the order Diptera, the flies, midges and mosquitoes that shape life on Earth. Meet the tiny midges we can thank for chocolate, the pollinators our gardens rely on, and the clean-up crews that keep ecosystems working. Her warmth and wit make the science a pleasure to read.
Beautifully produced as a hardback with colour illustrations, this is a small book with a big story to tell. A perfect read for non-fiction and popular science readers, entomologists and amateur bug lovers, gardeners and anyone hunting for a gift for a science loving friend. Whether for a keen naturalist or a curious first-time reader, it turns a much-maligned insect into a superhero.
- Easy to read popular science book about the hidden world of flies
- Written by entomologist Erica McAlister of the Natural History Museum, London
- Ten lively chapters on the order Diptera, from pollinators to clean-up crews
- Dispels common myths and shows why flies are essential to ecosystems
- Hardback with colour illustrations, around 256 pages
- A great gift for science readers, naturalists and gardener
Format: hardcover with colour illustrations, 248 pages
ISBN: 9781486308026
Dimensions: 200x140x20mm, 550g
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Orders are posted Mon - Weds. Standard post to Australian addresses will arrive within 5 - 7 working days from dispatch date.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easy to read or is it technical? It is written to be easy and entertaining. Erica McAlister is a working entomologist, so the science is sound, but her warm and witty style makes it accessible for general readers.
Who is the author? Dr Erica McAlister is an entomologist and curator of flies at the Natural History Museum in London, and a well known science communicator.
What is inside the book? Ten chapters explore the order Diptera, the flies, midges and mosquitoes, covering pollination, decomposition, disease, strange behaviours and the many ways flies matter to us.
What format is it? It is a hardback of around 256 pages with colour illustrations, which makes it a giftable size.
