Can Flies Be Frozen and Come Back to Life?
WouterFlies are fascinating creatures, but they can’t be immortal. If you have ever noticed a fly that has been frozen and re-emerged from the frozen state, the chances are that it was unconscious and simply pretending to die. However, there are several species of flies that can survive in freezing temperatures.
Flies normally live about two to four weeks. They hibernate during the coldest months. As a result, their development is slowed down. The question of “can flies be frozen and come back to life” is a controversial one. Although it has been successful in bringing live embryos back to life, scientists haven’t yet succeeded in bringing a fly back to life.
Freezing damages the structure of the fly’s cells and damages its innards. In fact, freezing causes flies to enter a state of “diapause”, a state of dormancy, where they slow down their development and appetite. Consequently, most flies will die when frozen, although some may survive in colder climates and remain active indoors.
The same theory also applies to adults: a dead fly will fall to the floor, thrash in anguish for a short time, and then die. The death of a fly will affect many other flies. Sadly, a dead fly will not come back to life, but if it is drowned or wrapped in a dry napkin, it may start breathing again. If you do, remember to watch it for a few minutes.
