How Do Flies Communicate With Each Other?

Scientists are trying to understand how flies communicate with each other. This study shows that certain species of fruit flies communicate with each other by warning each other of parasitic wasps. This behavior is more common when flies from the same species have lived together and have developed dialects, a phenomenon known as interspecific communication.

Flies use this form of communication to find their mates, identify kin, warn other insects of danger, and find food. Their ability to communicate is highly diverse, as they are able to distinguish among many noises in their surroundings. The signals are produced by specialized areas of their brains. They use the vibrations from these signals to attract mates and warn other organisms of danger.

The scientists that study fruit flies have found that the physical interactions between flies activate sensory nerve cells in the brain. Without these neurons, flies wouldn’t be able to establish social distances between each other. This is vital for flies to form organised clusters.

Despite their tiny brains, flies are able to outmaneuver human attackers and escape bug-zappers. This is possible because their sense of sight is much greater than ours.