Clever insects

No doubt rats are used to being ‘it’ along with many lessrespectful forms of address (Hide and squeak, December 2019), but true hiding behaviour occurs in much ‘simpler’ animals, too.

For instance, the response of flies on agrimony flowerheads to a hunting hornet is very interesting. I watched as the hoverflies and tachinid flies backed down between the florets as the hornet arrived, then re-emerged when it moved on. In 20 minutes of hawking around the fly-covered clump, the hornet failed to catch a single one.

Evidently the flies of various species identified their enemy and hid, watchfully, until the coast was clear. Never underestimate the small stuff!

Steve Smailes, Wiltshire