How Do Flies Smell Death?
WouterFlies smell death and are known to have excellent sense of smell. They can detect dead bodies from ten miles away. These winged visitors will land on a dead body within five to ten minutes. They can even smell death before humans do. Their quick reflexes help them to escape from the scene.
Flies can smell odours with the help of their antennae, which are covered in olfactory sensory nerve cells. They reach the bodies of a dead person or animal within minutes of death and are attracted to the strongest odour. However, the distance a fly will travel to a dead body depends on several factors. The size of the body, wind direction, and local topography all play a role. Some flies may prefer to find a corpse closer to home.
In addition to being attracted to strong odors, flies can be attracted to wet, sticky substances. These things are often the result of decay. Eventually, they become stuck in sticky materials, which makes them unable to fly away. This can be a problem when a body has not been properly decomposed.
It is important to note that most flies do not have hearing. Because of their tiny bodies, they are unable to use their hearing system effectively. However, the gases that are released by decomposing bodies emit distinct odors. These odors include putrescine and cadaverine, which smell like rotten flesh. Skatole is another odor attributed to death and smells like feces.
