Do Flies Feel Heat?
One of the biggest questions in the field of biology is: do flies feel heat? A recent study suggests they do. Insects have Hot and Cold Cells, which are located at the tips of their antenna. These cells sense a variety of temperatures and can be very sensitive to changes in temperature. In fact, some insects can feel pain even at very low temperatures. However, this finding does not explain the way flies react to heat.
In addition to this, flies also have hairs on their legs, which act as tiny feelers. These hairs are also important for dissipating heat, as they give the fly more surface area. The hairs also help to tell the fly where to position itself on its legs. As adults, flies have six legs. In larval stages, they only have three legs.
Fly eyes, on the other hand, use string-like structures to pick up light. These structures react mechanically to light, unlike the retinas of vertebrates. This allows flies to react to light at twice the speed of humans. While we perceive time as a continuous video, they receive images in flashes that are separate from one another.
When the weather is warm, flies emerge from their hibernation and find food. If you notice a cluster of flies in your home, it is likely that they’re looking for a warm place to lay their eggs. As the temperatures begin to drop, they will eventually die off on their own. If you see any dead flies on the floor, make sure to remove them as quickly as possible.