Why Do Flies Get Bigger As They Age?
WouterMost insects do not grow in the physical sense until they reach their last instar. Then, they may increase in mass. However, when they reach this stage, they will never grow as big as an adult fly. Rather, they will grow in size in a social sense. They may smush themselves in order to warn other ants not to attack them.
Scientists have looked at the mechanisms of aging in different species. One common mechanism is the aging of mitochondria. However, it is still unclear why some organisms appear to get larger with age. The answer is in a protein called Drp1. It breaks down enlarged mitochondria and helps the flies rid their bodies of damaged mitochondria.
The ability to adapt to different environments helps different species survive. Flies, for example, are not as big as dragonflies or elephants. The time that it takes for an adult to reach maturity is much shorter for these creatures. Their ability to adapt allows them to survive even if their food supply is limited. Moreover, flies can survive on small quantities of food and crumbs.
While flies have a relatively short lifespan of fifteen to thirty days, they go through four stages. First, they lay eggs. Female flies lay these eggs after mating and fertilization. These eggs are placed in moist, warm places and often on organic matter. In a lifetime, a female fly can lay up to 500 eggs. On average, she can lay about 75 to 150 eggs at a time.
