Why Do Flies Rub Their Hands Together?

You may have ever wondered why flies rub their hands together. These epic self-groomers use their hand motions to signal each other about food or moisture. Flies can be found in a wide variety of habitats and are able to use hand motions to communicate with one another and to plan flight.

The common housefly is representative of the fly taxonomy and, as such, is a good representative of the cleaning behavior of many species. In addition to the common housefly, numerous insect species rub their hands to clean themselves. They are especially careful to clean their antennae during the cleaning process.

The answer to the question of why flies rub their hands is as simple as flies’ unique body structure. Their legs and hands are unique compared to other animals, and they also have different structures. While we may not understand the mechanism behind their hand movements, we can learn more about their behavior by studying them.

Flies have hairs that act as sensors that allow them to detect taste. When these hairs are obstructed, it can inhibit the flies’ ability to survive. As a result, male flies rub their hands more often when around other male flies.

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