bild

Head of a bluebottle fly (Calliphora sp., coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). One of the large compound eyes (red) is at upper right. The fly's proboscis, used for feeding, is at left. This common fly feeds on rotting animal and vegetable matter. It is considered a domestic pest as it often spreads bacteria onto food. This fly can also act as a pollinator of flowers, sometimes being used in plant research as an alternative to bees. It is particularly attracted to flowers with strong odours resembling rotting meat. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/THIERRY BERROD, MONA LISA PRODUCTION/ SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)