I happened upon the Stalk-eyed Fly, family Diopsidae, yes, when searching the internet—for pollinators. What a remarkable portrait: mesmerizing, other-worldly. Our interest is especially piqued when, according to Britannica, “The adults of the one species in North America (Sphyracephala brevicornis) are sometimes found on skunk cabbage. In all species the larvae live and feed on wet organic matter in marsh or bog habitats. All other species are tropical.” A photograph of Sphyracephala brevicornis reveals a modest individual, not approaching the personality of the one featured as lead illustration, which is likely a tropical specie.
As detailed on Wikipedia, “This small but strange creature is mainly found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, Africa, and a few in Europe and North America. Their name is based on having long sections protruding from the sides of the head with eyes and antennae at the end. As stated by Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, UK, “Perhaps even more interesting is the evolutionary mechanism underlying this bizarre anatomy, whereby female flies show a strong preference for males with larger eye-stalks.” Diopsid flies are certainly some of the strangest-looking insects. More than 100 species are known, with the greatest diversity found in the Old World tropics.
Let’s head to swamp, pondside and streamside in search of the presence of the unique stalk-eyed flies. Look for them alighted upon the leaves and around Skunk Cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus. Spring’s tightly furled leaves have grown to the size of platters. If stalk-eyed flies thrive along with skunk cabbage in the Berkshires, we might see them feeding on the remains of skunk cabbage blossoms, fungi and unseen bacteria which they scavenge from decaying vegetation.
It had been years since I’d seen Fringed Polygala, Polygala paucifolia, also known as Gaywings, when my eyes alighted upon a pristine colony of the deep pink, miniature orchid-like blossoms at the edge of a rural dirt road. Find an engaging article about this beautiful wildflower here.
Mountain Laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is budding and blossoming in New England, marking the Summer Solstice. Go to the Native Plant Trust’s GoBotany page to become more acquainted with this celebrated shrub.
Today, Saturday, June 21, 2025, is the first full day of summer. The Summer Solstice occurred at 10:42 p.m. on the 20th.
Resources – Stand up for our public lands, support professional advocacy
The Nature Conservancy, National
The Nature Conservancy, Massachusetts
Natural Resources Defense Council NRDC Be A Force for the Future
Resources – Cultivate private lands sustainably. Continuing Education
“Native plants and their pollinators are part of a wider web that supports all life on our planet. With pollinators in a state of decline, it’s important that we are aware of these interdependencies and do what we can to help support them.” Olivia Newhall-Thayer, Native Plant Trust
Berkshire Botanical Garden, August 10: Ted Elliman, plantsman extraordinaire, leads Mount Greylock Summit Tour. Information and registration.
