Did You Know ???
- There are approximately 120,000 species of flies that have been described by science.
- In middle of the 20th century, doctors in battle and war zones used MAGGOTs (larvae ) of the lucilia blowflies to heal the wounds of soldiers who were injured.
- The maggots helped to clear infections when they are placed directly in the wounds.
- The adult housefly can live up to one month in the wild.
Types Of Flies
Includes :
- Blow flies
- Black fly
- Bottle flies
- Drain fly
- Fruit fly
- GNAT
- House fly
- Horn fly
- Sand fly
- Yellow fly
Blow Fly
Identification
- It is in metallic in appearance, with feathery hairs on the terminal antennal segments of the males.
Diet
- Most blow fly larvae feed in carrion or other decaying organic matter.
- Blow flies are attracted to decaying meat and are typically the first organisms to come into contact with dead animals.
- The meat of dead animals is essential for larval survival and growth.
Predators
Disease- Adults may be vectors of pathogens of diseases such as dysentery.
- Flies, most commonly Calliphoridae, have frequently been associated with disease transmission in humans and animals, as well as myiasis .
Bottle fly
Identification
- Bottle flies, also called blow flies, are common, large flies known for their metallic blue or green color.
Diet
- Feed on dog feces, exposed food and decomposing plants or animals.
- Larvae feed on decaying animal flesh and need rotting meat to complete their development.
Predators
Disease
- Potential and threatening diseases include rabbit haemorrhagic disease.
- These maggots are a major source of this skin invasion, causing lesions.
House fly
Identification
- Usually gray, less than 4 to 7.5 mm long with four black stripes on the thorax.
Diet
- Wide variety of food, including human food, animal food and carcasses, garbage and excrement.
Predators
- Recognized as carriers of easily communicable diseases.
- Flies collect pathogens on their legs and mouths when females lay eggs on decomposing organic matter such as feces, garbage and animal corpses.
Where do flies breed and lay eggs ?
- Filth flies include the common house fly, drain flies and blow flies.
- Depending on species, they may seek moist, dark piles of trash, rotting carcasses or manure in which to lay their eggs.
- Fruit flies, as their name implies, are fond of overripe fruit or other sugary substances.
How does the disease spread ?
- House flies carry diseases on their legs and the small hairs that cover their bodies.
- It takes only a matter of seconds for them to transfer these pathogens to food or touched surfaces.
- Mature house flies also use saliva to liquefy solid food before feeding on it. During this process, they transfer the pathogens first collected by landing on offal.
Disease caused by flies
- typhoid
- cholera
- dysentery
- salmonella
- anthrax
- tuberculosis
How to prevent from infected ?
Cleaning away fly attractants
- Clean the kitchen thoroughly
- Keep compost buckets covered.
- Keep pet food covered or remove uneaten pet food.
- Keep all bins covered.
Life Cycle of Flies
Body Parts of Flies
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