14 Real Facts About House Flies Everyone Should Know
You encounter houseflies almost every day but never take time to study how they live. These tiny intruders are fascinating, with a variety of hidden characteristics. If it’s not their unusual feeding habits, it’s their impressive survival skills. These tiny insects are full of surprises. Stay here to understand some of the most interesting facts about these organisms and know how remarkable they truly are.
They Can Taste With Their Feet
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Did you know houseflies have a weird talent? They taste with their feet. This unimaginable ability is enabled by the chemoreceptors located on their legs. These allow the insect to sense flavors upon landing. This explains why they are quick to detect food, making them access their meals quickly.
House Flies Live On a Liquid Diet
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Isn’t this an interesting thing to know? While they mostly perch on solid food, they can’t consume it in that form. Their mouth parts are spongy, making it impossible to consume anything solid. These small creatures have to use their adaptations to dissolve solid food before they can take it.
House Flies Are Relatively Young Insects in the World
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Would you believe that these stubborn visitors to our kitchens have just been around for approximately 65 million years? With their adaptation, it is evident that this recent evolution has adapted fast to changing environments. Their agility makes them expert survivors, which explains why they are everywhere.
They Can Spread a Range of Diseases
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This is what should worry you most about these often ignored organisms. House flies spread a wide range of diseases, thanks to their habit of feeding on waste. They are some of the most efficient carriers of pathogens. Being constantly on the move between food and filth makes them a high risk.
They See Behind Them
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These small guys have another fascinating ability of seeing all around them. Imagine your eyes behind your head. That is where their compound eyes are placed, enabling them a 360-degree view of the world around them. This explains their amazing reflex, which helps them avoid predators.
House Flies Can Walk Upside Down
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Walking upside down is an ability that I bet you never know about these creatures. Surprised? They have tiny hairs and sticky pads on their feet, which allow them to cling to any surface. While other insects can perch and fly off, these special guys can perch and walk upside down.
They Live for a Maximum of 30 Days
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Houseflies have a significantly short lifespan, usually 30 days. Their quick reproduction makes it essential to live for just a while before letting others live. Despite their brief existence, they lay hundreds of eggs, ensuring their population thrives. The one that tormented you last month will not do so this month.
House Flies Have an Impressive Reaction Time
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As you may now know, these organisms have one of the quickest reaction times in the insect world. Their advanced nervous system and compound eyes give them the adaptation to achieve this. I bet you also wouldn’t want your life cut short if you only had 30 days to live.
Male House Flies Are Constantly Looking for A Date
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In the animal world, passing down as many genes as possible is vital. The male house flies understand this perfectly and are always seeking mates due to their biological need to reproduce. The short lifespan means that you don’t have much time to waste. That’s interesting about these insects.
They Lay Eggs in Unconventional Places
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Unlike other creatures that have designated spots for laying eggs, houseflies drop them in the most unusual places, including on your food. They prefer moist, decaying organic matter for their offspring. This ensures that the youngsters have plenty to feed on when they begin their lives.
They Breathe Through Spiracles
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While you have a nose, houseflies use a feature called spiracles to take their breath. It’s a biological technique that allows air to enter the body directly, eliminating the need for lungs. These spiracles enhance their oxygen intake, facilitating their high-energy lifestyle. A simple yet sophisticated life for the tiny parasites.
They Are Constant Groomers
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Spending almost your entire life on filth would require you to clean all the time. Houseflies keep themselves clean by brushing off dirt and debris with their legs. It’s an adaptive strategy aimed at ensuring proper sensory organ functionality. This is the only way to keep predators at bay.
Regurgitate to Eat
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These organisms often have a unique nutritional habit. Just like you chew, they regurgitate to eat. It’s a biological process involving vomiting digestive enzymes onto food to liquefy it. Since they can’t consume solid food, they have to do this to feed themselves. Their approach illustrates their resourcefulness and adaptability.
They Are Not Found in Antarctica
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Despite the comparatively short time they’ve lived on earth, houseflies are found everywhere on earth except Antarctica. The extreme cold on the continent is unbearable for these creatures. Their need for organic matter and warmth to survive makes it impossible to survive in extremely cold environments.