Which Countries Have Flies?
WouterFlies are a common insect found worldwide, and some are harmful to humans. Mosquitoes, for example, can transmit diseases such as yellow fever and malaria. Several types of flies are also important pollinators of plants and animals. The house fly is an important vector of various diseases, while the Mediterranean Fruit Fly attacks citrus fruits. Some flies are useful as food for birds, and some species of flies are classified as endangered.
Flies are not common in the United States, but they can be a real problem in other countries with free-roaming animals. These animals leave calling cards for the flies to feed on, and the sanitary systems in these countries are generally not very sophisticated. Because of these conditions, the prevalence of fly-borne diseases is extremely high in countries with poor sanitary systems and many hoofed animals.
The house fly originated in the Middle East, and is estimated to have been around for 65 million years. It may have been introduced to the Americas with the Vikings and Columbus. It may have also come over with the Chinese and Basques in the early 1200s. It is difficult to determine when flies first became widespread, but their spread can be traced back as far as the early Europeans.
Flies are small insects that can be one to seven centimeters long. They live in tropical areas and subarctic regions. Some species are very small and are called fungus gnats. Other flies are larger and squattering, with wings.
