Be careful the next time you feel like swatting a fly -- you could be breaking the law:
Twelve species of rare flies known for their elaborate courtship displays and found only in the Hawaiian Islands are now protected under the Endangered Species Act.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the protected status for the highly valued picture-wing flies Tuesday.
The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity sued the service in March 2005, accusing it of violating the Endangered Species Act. The center said the agency did not move ahead fast enough on listing the flies as endangered after a 2001 proposal for the flies' protected status was made.
And the 12 species, that's only a start; these people say some 200 need federal protection. Wait till somebody want's to build a house on their "habitats."
