Shoo fly, don’t bother me: Australia’s most common flies and how to keep them away this summer | Thomas White and Tanya Latty for the Conversation

Fly season is here and there is buzzing in the air - and in our homes. So who are these curious insects and how should we feel about them?

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

As the days grow longer and temperatures climb, we're greeted by a familiar chorus of buzzing. It's fly season again.

This year is off to a bumper start, with bush flies swarming beach-goers, March flies on the march, and mosquitoes taking to the skies en masse.