Why Do Flies Have Legs?
WouterFlies don’t have hands, but they do have legs and sensilla, which are receptors on their bodies that help them hunt and eat food. While most insects have these receptors in their antennae, flies have them on their legs. There are three main parts of a fly’s body: the head, the abdomen, and the legs.
Flies have bristles on their legs that they use to clean themselves. Their legs also help them to sense their environment. They can detect certain smells and tastes that other insects don’t. This behavior allows flies to find food and mate. Interestingly, flies use their legs to help them feel more comfortable in their habitat.
Flies don’t have legs as larvae, but they have six legs as adults. Despite having no legs as larvae, they have tongues on their legs. However, they don’t have lungs, so they cannot transport oxygen through their circulatory system. They use a simple gas exchange system to get oxygen and to expel waste.
Flies have special compound eyes compared to other insects, giving them better vision than most others. Their two large compound eyes are equivalent to about 1,000 eyes. They also have an amazing mental capacity, as researchers have discovered by studying fruit flies. They seem to think before acting and make difficult decisions. Their legs are very useful and flexible – allowing flies to walk on most surfaces and angles.
