Do Flies Have Teeth?
WouterA common question among insects is “Do flies have teeth?” Flies do not have teeth, but they do have other ways to digest food. For instance, flies use their antennae to detect food, then use their mouthparts to mop up solid particles. They also vomit digestive juices onto a food particle. To swallow this mixture, flies press their mouths against it, and the fluids get absorbed by their bodies.
Similarly, female mosquitoes do not have teeth, and they use their proboscis to “bite” to obtain blood protein. Their bites are painful and inflict swelling. As a result, animals swarm together and try to escape the insect. The amount of blood lost can be substantial. According to Webb and Wells, a single horsefly bite can result in as much as a teaspoon of blood.
The answer depends on the species of fly. The most common fly in your home is the house fly, which is less than an inch long. These insects live for between 15 and 25 days. During this short lifespan, they can lay as many as 600 eggs. House flies also have a long tongue, called a proboscis, which is used to suck up food.
Although insects do not have teeth, they do have brains. Though their brains are not as complex as those of humans, they serve an important role in insect survival. They also have a unique circadian rhythm that changes depending on food availability. Insects also have a heart which pumps hemolymph. Although it is different from a human heart, it shares a few genes with vertebrates.
