What Are Flies Good For?

Many flies are beneficial, and many of them actually help the world in some way. For example, they help pollinate a wide variety of plants. There are bee flies and hoverflies that help pollinate different kinds of flowers. These flies mimic bees, but they do not carry pollen as efficiently.

Although we often associate flies with disease and dirt, it is important to remember that flies can have many beneficial roles in the ecosystem. There are more than 100 000 different species of flies, and understanding their role in the world’s ecosystems is essential to human health. In fact, 2019 has been declared the International Year of the Fly.

Flies are important to many animals. Many pets, including dogs, depend on these insects to feed. Flies also help to feed lizards, birds, and frogs. Because they have no teeth, flies can’t chew solid food. They use their mouthparts called proboscis to swallow food. They can also taste food using their feet.

Female flies lay hundreds of eggs. They lay these eggs on food supplies. Because they can see far away, female flies can detect food miles away. Female flies breed when the weather is warm and food is plentiful. Unlike mosquitoes, flies do not require parental care.