Are Flies Always Pregnant?
WouterFlies that are pregnant can change their behavior to accommodate their new role as parents. Fruit flies, for instance, have evolved a rudimentary method of nesting by stretching their abdomens. As a result, they change their priorities when preparing to lay eggs. While virgin fruit flies are only interested in sex, mated females reject male courtship in favor of laying eggs.
Most flies can see colors, which helps them find food and places to lay eggs. Queen ants, for instance, have six legs attached to their thorax and feed on dead things on the ground. Similarly, hessian and bot flies feed on animal tissue, while tachinid flies feed on other insects.
A common green bottle fly emerges in the spring to begin mating. Adults are ready to breed in just a few hours from the time they emerge from their pupa case. Because of their quick development, it isn’t unusual to see a sudden increase in fly infestations. This is because female flies lay their eggs in warm manure and develop into maggots and larvae.
Female flies lay several hundred eggs during their life cycle. Usually, they find a moist, dark place and lay eggs. Maggots feed on this area for up to five days. During the fifth day, the pupa matures and develops wings and legs. Once the pupa is fully mature, it exits its pupa shell to become an adult fly.
