Do Flies Have Brains?
WouterThe brain in flies is similar to human brains, but it is not the same. The brain is the control center of a fly’s body, governing all of its sensory, motor, and memory functions. In addition, the brain controls the entire fly’s involuntary actions.
Flies have specialized chemoreceptors for smell and taste. They use these sensory organs to detect food and other objects around them. Houseflies are often attracted to pet food bowls. These bowls contain salt and natural oils, which attract these little pests. Flies are also attracted to dead skin cells and other objects that smell or have a smell.
Some insects are able to survive without their heads, and some of these insects have up to ten hearts. But the hearts of insects and jellyfish are not as complicated as their brains. Jellyfish, on the other hand, have only basic nerves at the base of their tentacles. The discovery of the brains of flies and jellyfish may lead to better understanding of the nervous system in animals of all kinds.
Flies also have sensory organs on their feet. They feed on fecal matter and poop to survive. While most insects don’t have brains, they do have a central nervous system, and their bodies have a circadian rhythm (the amount of time they spend awake and asleep). Flies’ eyesight also varies greatly, but they can see 360 degrees. This helps explain why it is so hard to swatt a fly.
