Flies are insects of the order Diptera (with two wings). These animals have a wide classification with thousands of described species. Many flies have no impact on the dynamics of people, however, a varied group of them generate he alth problems, since they are vectors of various diseases of medical importance.
There are not a few species of these insects that are synanthropic. In other words, they have adapted to and depend on the conditions that people develop in urban habitats or animal husbandry for their reproduction and feeding. On our site we present an article about what do flies eat,since precisely in many cases their nutrition is specifically associated with the he alth problems they generate in people or animals.
Grass Flies
The species Drosophila melanogaster, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, is one of the classic examples of these insects that feed on fruits in fermentation process, hence its common name fruit fly. It lives practically all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica, and it is also limited by deserts or mountain ranges. The feeding habits of this dipterous are made up of vegetable matter. When they are adults, they consume decomposing fruits and some plants For their part, the eggs are placed in unripe fruits, so that when the larvae emerge, they have matured being able to serve as food for them. The species is capable of damaging a large number of the products it feeds on when it consumes them.
Fruit fly
The fruit fly is a highly used species for scientific studies, linked to genetics. Thus, when bred in laboratories for these purposes, they are often fed nutritious, sugary culture media, which supplies their dietary requirements.
Attic fly
The attic fly (Pollenia rudis) is another species that feeds on sap, flowers and fruits when it is an adult. However, in the larval phase it is carnivorous, feeding at this stage on worms, such as Lumbricus rubellus and Lumbricus terrestris, among others. This species is typical of North America and Europe; It causes certain nuisances because it tends to gather inside the houses when the external temperatures decrease.
Mediterranean fly
Another example of these herbivore-feeding insects is the Mediterranean fruit fly (Eratitis capitata). It is native to West Africa, but currently has a rather global distribution. The females of this species pierce various types of fruits and lay their eggs inside them. Once the larvae emerge, they feed on the pulp of the fruit, but in many cases they are vectors of pathogenic fungi that also cause significant damage. In the adult stage, the species continues to feed on fruits, such as apricots, loquats, peaches, figs, citrus fruits, among others. This fly is considered harmful to various crops.
Another herbivorous fly is the genus Graphomya, belonging to the Muscidae family. Although they are predators in the larval stage, in the adult stage, they feed on nectar. We can also mention the Anthomyiidae family, which includes various totally herbivorous species, the which in the larval and adult phases feed on various parts of the plants, causing significant damage to agriculture.
Flies that feed on blood
There is a varied group of fly species that base their diet on the blood of people or animals. When they extract the same, at the same time, they are capable of transmitting certain pathogens that cause diseases in the affected victim. Let's get to know some examples of these flies:
Horned fly
The horn fly (Haematobia irritans), although native to Europe, has been introduced to North America and is considered a pest capable of causing significant damage to cattle. The eggs are deposited in the feces of these animals, where the larvae will emerge and remain until the adult forms. The larvae will feed on the manure, taking advantage of the bacteria and the products they form. However, when flying adults, they will seek out a suitable herd member to absolutely feed on their blood. This species will remain all its life in the same group of animals, the females only leave it momentarily to lay eggs. When an animal is affected by many horn flies, its he alth deteriorates significantly. On the one hand, due to blood loss and on the other hand, due to the injuries that this species causes. As a secondary effect, other Diptera can take advantage of the wounds and lay their eggs in them, causing myiasis in the animal.
Sand Flies
Additionally, we can mention the genus Phlebotomus, which groups several species that are commonly known as sand flies, which inhabit Mediterranean and tropical areas. In this species it is the female who feeds on blood,being able to transmit certain diseases such as leishmaniasis, among others.
Stable fly
Lastly, we can mention the stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans), which although it originated in Europe and Asia, currently has a wide global distribution. Both males and females feed on blood,mainly from cattle and horses, although they also feed on other animals and people. The species is a vector of the Trypanosoma group, which cause important diseases and can generate other pathologies in humans and animals.
Flies that feed on decomposing matter
There are some flies that feed exclusively on decomposed matter, so they can be considered scavenger flies. We have some examples in the family Fanniidae, which is distributed between Asia, Africa and Australia. We also find the family Scathophagida, a group known as dung flies,since their larvae They feed on the fecal matter of animals. For their part, adults can also be nourished in the same way or consume decomposing plant matter.
Other fly food sources
In this article we cannot fail to mention the most emblematic representative of these insects, the common or house fly (Musca domestica). It is globally distributed and inhabits many urban homes. It is capable of transmitting various pathogens that significantly affect the he alth of people and some animals, causing diseases such as: cholera, salmonellosis, typhoid fever and dysentery.
Precisely living with humans, the food source of the common or house fly is very varied, which includes practically everything that people consumeand that contact with the food, originates the biological contamination of the same. They can also consume decaying matter and pet feces. Similarly, we can find predatory – carnivorous species, such is the case of the group belonging to the Asilidae family, commonly called killer flies , since the adults are quite aggressive and feed on other insects.
A peculiar species is the autumn fly (Musca autumnali), which has a wide distribution range in Asia and Europe. In the adult state it is characterized by feeding on manure, plant sugars, but also on secretions around the eyes, nose and mouth,of both horses and cattle and even feeds on the blood of these animals. This fly is capable of transmitting certain diseases to the hosts it feeds on.
We have been able to notice that just as flies are a highly diverse group, so is their diet, so that we find from groups specialized in their food consumption to those that have a varied diet.
Flies are generally animals that are widely rejected by people, because they can be bothersome and cause serious illnesses in people and other animals. However, many times their presence in certain places, as well as their high rate of reproduction, are our responsibility by introducing them into habitats where they were not before or by offering them the optimal conditions for them to reproduce en masse.
In any of these cases, it will always be pertinent to seek to regulate their presence with the use of natural repellents or biological controllers and minimize the use of chemical insecticides, which are harmful to people's he alth., animals and in general for the environment.
