Savage unsung hero is a gardener’s best friend

TWICE a year, in the spring and autumn, the National Biodiversity Data Centre produces an online magazine called Biodiversity Ireland.

It’s something to look forward to because the articles are about fascinating aspects of natural history and are always beautifully illustrated and written in very simple language.

The spring issue is just out and the article that caught my attention was about hoverflies. I see them about the place but I don’t know much about them, apart from a vague notion that they are important pollinators in my garden. But the distinguished zoologist Martin Speight convinced me in his article they are fascinating insects which I want to find out more about.