The Very Stinky Fly Hunt
By: Andrea Wild Illustrated by: Karen Erasmus
Based on a true story, join Keith on his very stinky search for one of Australia’s rarest insects.
Keith is a scientist who hunts for flies. He looks for flies in parks and gardens. He peers into deep, dark caves. But there is one fly in particular that is very hard to find. + Full description
To catch this elusive creature, Keith embarks on a very special fly hunt – a strange and smelly quest, because he is going to look for this very hard to find fly in remote public toilets. How loo-dicrous!
Join Keith on this very stinky search for one of Australia’s rarest insects. And just like Keith, you may learn that if you try hard enough, persistence pays off.
The Very Stinky Fly Huntreveals that science is sometimes weird and sometimes a little gross too, but always an adventure.
Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6 to 9.
- Short descriptionDetails
Hardback | November 2025 | $ 26.99ISBN: 9781486318780 | 32 pages | 250 x 250 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour illustrations
Features
- A true science story about a researcher from the Australian National Insect Collection at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), who hunts for rare flies in remote public toilets.
- Shares real science in a humorous and accessible way that will appeal to kids who enjoy all things gross and weird.
- Underlining messages of discovery, the wonders of nature, and the importance of all animals for biodiversity – even flies, a group of species that some would find insignificant or annoying.
Contents
Main storyDr Keith Bayless, the fly hunter
Searching for Clisa australis
Glossary
A dipterist’s equipment
Acknowledgements
Authors
Andrea Wild is a science communicator with CSIRO’s National Research Collections Australia, and the author of AmAZed! CSIRO’s A to Z of Biodiversity and Wild Collections: Specimens, Stories and Science from CSIRO. She has two sons, one who loves nature and one who loves experiments.
Karen Erasmus has been illustrating material for children for many years. She lives on the south coast of Australia with her three dogs, five chickens, grown-up children and husband. Karen loves the diversity and quirkiness of Australian wildlife. She is also the illustrator of Wombat Poos Are Square.
For Teachers
We have created these Teacher Notes as a free PDF download to support the use of this book in the classroom.
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