3313. Flies © Bruce Goodman 30 August 2025

Diane, as a child, had always been interested in entomology, the study of insects. She always said that when she grew up she wanted to be an entomologist. She had several rows of butterfly chrysalises in her room and was waiting for them to turn into butterflies. She pretended she herself was a chrysalis and would turn into something beautiful. As she grew up she learned that not every insect is a beautiful butterfly. There are ugly grubs, and nipping flies, and stinging wasps, and biting ants. The world is full of horrible insects – not to mention spiders. Diane grew to hate insects. That is why she earned a university degree in entomology; so she could better understand how best to kill them. In fact, she very quickly got herself a job in a laboratory that developed insect sprays. It was a wonderful day when she developed a fly spray that could cover an extensive area without harming the butterflies. It would kill not sophisticated bugs but the ordinary variety of household fly. A local cattle farmer volunteered his property to be the guinea pig. His entire farm would be sprayed for flies. Neighbours could rejoice! No more horrible summer flies! They sprayed. Oh the stench of rotting animal bodies. Bring back the maggots. Contact Author Back to Index Next Story Previous Story