Do Flies Need Water to Live?
WouterFlies are winged insects with two wings that typically live in stagnant or moist places. As one of the largest insect groups, they require moisture to survive. They feed on organic matter and standing water, and are attracted to these areas. They are a serious problem because they can spread diseases and pathogens, and they have become a widespread pest in many areas. Flies are also fast breeders, and can multiply very quickly.
Flies are not completely dependent on water to live, but they need food for their reproduction. Although flies can live for 3 days without food, they will eventually gravitate towards water. This phenomenon can be explained by a specific subset of dopamine-using neurons in the brain. These neurons are needed to induce thirst, which allows flies to begin valuing water.
Fly interactions with droplets of other liquids are very different than those of water droplets. In one experiment, a fly encounters a 5 cSt silicone oil droplet and stands against the tank wall for 1.7 ms. When the droplet reaches the fly’s head, the fly has an impact time of 3 ms, and lands on its head. It then jerks repeatedly in an attempt to escape the droplet.
In the summer, house flies are most active, while the rest of the year they hibernate. This increases their chances of finding food sources, but reduces their life span. In addition, a warm environment and plenty of food helps them live longer.
