How Do Flies Go Through Metamorphosis?
WouterMetamorphosis is the process of change in animals. Depending on species, metamorphosis can involve different stages. For example, tadpoles can go from immature stage to adult stage, and grasshoppers and moths go from larva stage to adult stage. Complete metamorphosis is a more complex process, involving multiple stages. A butterfly undergoes metamorphosis in three stages: larva, nymph, and adult.
The process of fly metamorphosis is fascinating to watch. This process occurs before the adult fly stage. It is important to note that the fruit fly does not change into a maggot, but rather into a fly. Similarly, a mosquito does not transform into a spider.
After the final moult, adult flies enter pupa stage. They are dormant at this stage and will molt several times before entering the next stage of their life cycle. This pupa stage is characterized by the development of wings, antennae, and legs.
Flies begin their lives as eggs. The eggs are about the size of grains of rice, and they hatch between eight and twenty hours after the adult fly lays them. After hatching, the maggots grow to about half an inch, which is similar to worms. Their head is thin, and they have kidney-shaped markings.
When the larvae develop, they feed on plants and fungi. They also lay their eggs in leaves and stems. Once they emerge, they can suck up extra nutrients in dry food and even contaminate it. Similarly, some adult flies feed on vertebrate blood.
