How Do Flies Know When Other Fly Die?
WouterOne of the most intriguing mysteries in biology is how do flies know when other fly die? Christine Picard, biology director at the Purdue School of Science at IUPUI, conducted an experiment to find out. She observed the behavior of a species of flies called blow flies. These flies are metallic blue, green, or black and tend to be quite noisy when flying. They are also important to the decomposition process of animal carcasses. They are usually the first insects to arrive at a carcass and start to lay eggs. In her experiment, Picard observed the behavior of blow flies after a dead bird had been left out for a few hours.
Flies lay hundreds of eggs. Each egg develops into a fly in just a few days. If food is available, millions of flies can appear in a short period of time. Adult flies have a lifespan of about two weeks. In addition, some flies give birth to live maggots. Fortunately, these bugs won’t harm humans.
It is not known exactly how flies discern what food other flies are eating. Flies use their feet as taste receptors. These sensitive sensory organs allow them to judge whether the food is nutritious or not. They may rub their legs together before eating. Some also clean their feet. The bristles and fine hair on their feet may also be used to detect food.
