Thousands of Flies Keep Landing on North Sea Oil Rigs Then Taking Off a Few Hours Later – Here’s Why

Thousands of flies landed on an oil rig. Scientists finally think they know why

They would sit there for a few hours, then suddenly they would all rise up into the sky and fly off again

Thousands of flies keep landing on North Sea oil rigs then taking off a few hours later – here’s why

On a North Sea oil rig several years ago, an engineer noticed a strange phenomenon. A cloud of insects would descend from the sky and land on the upper reaches of the platform. There were thousands of them, carpeting the superstructure and barely moving. They would sit there for a few hours, then suddenly they would all rise up into the sky and fly off again. The engineer, whose name was Craig Hannah, was also a keen naturalist and photographer.…

Environmental News Network - Oil Rig Study Reveals Vital Role of Tiny Hoverflies

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Oil Rig Study Reveals Vital Role of Tiny Hoverflies

A study of migratory hoverflies on a North Sea oil rig has revealed their vital role as long-distance pollen transporters.

Stripy animals with big eyes found on remote oil rig in North Sea. What they were carrying stuns researchers

Researchers found hundreds of tiny marmalade hoverflies on the remote rig, and most of them were carrying pollen – here's why that's important.