Fly Research and Conservation Virtual Symposium

Join us during Insect Week to explore some of the latest research and conservation projects about true flies (Diptera).

True flies (order Diptera) are insects with a single functional pair of wings, with the second pair modified into halteres that help with balance and agile flight. Ecologically, flies play major roles as pollinators, decomposers, and key links in food webs, breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients. Some species are also important disease vectors, while others help control pests by preying on or parasitising them. Beyond ecology, flies have practical applications in forensics (estimating time of death), medicine (maggot therapy for wound cleaning), and science, where fruit flies are classic model organisms in genetics.

Join us for a virtual symposium on Fly Research and Conservation, bringing together fly specialists, researchers, and conservationists to explore the fascinating world of Diptera. This event will cover the latest advancements in fly ecology, taxonomy, and biodiversity, as well as strategies for conserving these vital yet often overlooked insects. The audience will have the opportunity to submit their questions to each of our speakers as part of live Q&A sessions.

Speaker Programme

The Fly Research and Conservation Virtual Symposium will be feature speakers from a range of fly research and conservation projects:

1. The Aspen Hoverfly: From Research and Survey to Influencing Woodland Policy
2. Mapping the UK's Flat Flies
3. Speaker 3 details coming soon...
4. Speaker 4 details coming soon...

The presentations will be recorded and shared with those who booked alongside Q&A transcripts and lists of useful links via a password-protected website following the event.

eTicket Fes

This event is unfunded and we rely on ticket fees to cover the costs of running the event. However, we did not want cost to be a barrier to attendance so we are letting you decide what you can afford to pay to attend.

1. Professional Ticket - Ticket price is £30. Ticket option for those attending in a professional capacity as part of their work or for their career professional development.

2. Non-professional Ticket - Pay what you can afford (minimum fee of £1, recommended donation £10). VAT at 20% will be added to your ticket fee at checkout.Ticket option for non-professionals such as volunteer biological recorders, conservation volunteers and amateur naturalists.

This event is delivered by the Biological Recording Company

The Aspen Hoverfly: From Research and Survey to Influencing Woodland Policy

Iain MacGowan (National Museums Scotland)

The presentation follows the story of the Aspen Hoverfly (Hammerschmidtia ferruginea) in the UK, from the first discovery of its breeding site to the role it now plays in shaping woodland policy in the Cairngorms. Along the way, pioneering techniques have been developed to provide an insight into its autecology and that of associated species. The project has also led to a greater understanding of the mature aspen sites on which the species depends, allowing targeted management and monitoring to take place.

Iain McGowan has been involved in the conservation and management of saproxylic Diptera for the last three decades, mainly working on species found in the Scottish boreal woodlands. He is currently a Research Associate at the National Museums of Scotland.

Mapping the UK's flat flies

Dr Denise Wawman FRES (University of Oxford)

Flat flies or louse flies (Diptera:Hippoboscidae) are a blood-sucking bird parasites, but until recently we knew very little about them and the diseases they transmit. Flies collected for the 'Mapping the UK's Flat Fly Project' were used to determine which flat fly species are present in the UK, their ranges and which bird species they are found on, showing marked changes since the 1960s. Ongoing research is exploring their ability to transmit diseases.

Dr Denise Wawman FRES is the UK recorder for Hippoboscidae (flat/louse flies and keds) and a BTO licensed bird ringer. A former NHS GP, she completed her DPhil study on flat flies in March 2025, and continues research on this group of flies.