Where Does Flies Sleep at Night?
WouterFlies are known for their deep, restful sleep. In fact, they sleep longer than the average human. This is so that they are awake when predators approach them. Flies also sleep in shady places so they can avoid the heat. If flies are exposed to the heat, they’ll become thirsty and die. In order to survive, flies will sleep wherever they can find a cool, shady spot.
While flies take short naps during the day, they spend their nights sleeping and resting. Adult flies spend most of the day buzzing around, but young ones sleep more. They usually find a comfortable place to sleep, such as under the side of a leaf, under a tree trunk, or on the ground.
Although flies can live for a very long time without sleep, they need at least eight hours of rest each day. Even if they spend most of their day flying around, flies still need to rest to recharge and build their brains for the day ahead. The cooler temperatures at night also reduce their activity levels, causing them to seek a cool place to sleep.
Scientists have observed that flies have a similar sleep cycle to humans. In the dark, they build up sleep proteins that break down when the light returns. These proteins are also present in daytime animals’ eyes. As such, flies are also sensitive to drugs, alcohol, and other substances that keep humans awake.
