The fly that can’t fly: entomologists make fascinating discovery in Lesotho

South African scientists find a mystery female specimen with stunted wings identified as a flightless fly

In December 2021, the South African dipterologists (entomologists specialising in flies) John Midgley and Burgert Muller set off on a long-anticipated collecting mission to Lesotho, the only country in the world that has its entire territory located at an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,280ft) and higher.

Looking at the maps, we knew that the high-altitude plateau in north-eastern Lesotho would be interesting," says Midgley. Whenever you have an island' that's cut off from its surroundings you get cool things." Especially when you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of entomologists who have been there.