Snail-Killing Flies

Researchers from the Central Queensland University (CQU) School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, have discovered what seems to be the first known case of flies that attack and kill marine snails. The discovery was made while a research project was being conducted in the Keppel Sands mangroves, north of the Tropic of Capricorn in Queensland.

Researchers found two fly species that attack and kill marine snails. The flies are also new species. Other flies kill terrestrial and freshwater snails, but these kill marine ones.

The results of the research have been accepted for publication by leading scientific journals in Australia, Germany and Holland.

The project has also resulted in international collaboration with the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm.

The research has potential benefits in obtaining knowledge of the distributions and life cycles of these marine flies which could lead to the discovery of other new species that can be used as biological control agents against pest snails.