Meet the twerking pollinator with a bum-bag: the dark-edged bee-fly

Bombylius major, the thieving, deceiving, fluffy flying narwhal-like insect, that is a harbinger of spring

Hundreds of nominations for invertebrate of the year whittled down to 10

Everybody loves bees. But these bumbling pollinators are ten a penny. How about a pollinator who twerks? A pollinator with a bum-bag for storing sand? A pollinator that pretends it’s a bee but actually looks far cooler? A pollinator with a dark side?

All hail the dark-edged bee-fly (Bombylius major), a beautiful insect that’s been likened to a fluffy flying narwhal. An insect whose arrival in the skies of temperate Europe, North America and parts of Asia signifies that spring is here.

Between 24 March and 2 April, we will be profiling a shortlist of 10 of the invertebrates chosen by readers and selected by our wildlife writers from more than 2,500 nominations. The voting for our 2025 invertebrate of the year will run from midday on Wednesday 2 April until midday on Friday 4 April.

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Hundreds of nominations for invertebrate of the year whittled down to 10

It was a challenge to choose from among the wonderful creatures including insects, arachnids and crustaceans. ‘Unique and important’: Tongue-biting louse is wonderfully gruesome Invertebrates ...
The Guardian - 1d
‘Unique and important’: Tongue-biting louse is wonderfully gruesome

The inventive parasite Cymothoa exigua can survive for years by taking over a fish’s tongue and keeping its host alive. With 1.3m contenders, nominations fly in for invertebrate of the year ...
The Guardian - 1d
Zelenskyy flying to Riyadh to meet crown prince as Russia steps up attacks

Ukrainian president to meet Mohammed bin Salman but will not be at Saudi-led talks with US officials later this week. Europe live – latest updates Volodymyr Zelenskyy is flying to Saudi Arabia ...
The Guardian - Mar. 10
Goodbye to 'bags fly free' on Southwest Airlines, the last freebie in America

Southwest's customer-focused business model won it a loyal following during its half-century of flying.
CNBC - Mar. 15
Use of pesticides on UK farms to be cut by 10% by 2030 to protect bees

Campaigners welcome long-delayed proposals to reduce pesticide-related harms to pollinators. The use of pesticides on UK farms is to be reduced by 10% by 2030 under government plans to protect bees ...
The Guardian - 4d
Bags fly free no more: Southwest Airlines to end free checked luggage policy

Southwest Airlines will no longer allow bags to fly free. The airline announced Tuesday it will begin charging some customers who check baggage in May.
The Hill - Mar. 11
Alaska plane that crashed and killed 10 was too heavy for conditions, NTSB report says

A Cessna plane that crashed while as it was flying to Nome, Alaska, last month, killing all 10 people on board, was hundreds of pounds too heavy for icing conditions, a National Transportation ...
NBC News - 6d
Helena Rowland handed fly-half reins as Red Roses begin Women’s Six Nations

The Loughborough playmaker starts at 10 for the first time at international level for three years as England face Italy in York
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Studio People Can Fly phases out VR games, citing retreat in investments from platform holders

With no more money from VR platform holders to subsidize development, studios like People Can Fly are second-guessing their own time with it.
VentureBeat - Mar. 14