Cycles of Change

From hoverflies to butterflies, many insects undergo the biggest transformation of any animal on the planet during their life cycle. Dr Erica McAlister unmasks the ongoing mystery of metamorphosis and hears how now it's being used as a barometer to track future climate change.

With contributions from historian and zoologist Professor Matthew Cobb, University of Manchester; Grace Touzel, curator Natural History Museum; conservation biologist, Dr Christopher Hassall, University of Leeds.

Producer: Adrian Washbourne

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2021.