Flies are a major nuisance, not to mention their annoying buzzing! When it comes to businesses, especially in the food and pharmaceutical industries, they can be of great concern because of the impact they can have on the health of consumers.

However, flies are quite fascinating, even if not particularly well thought of. Here are some interesting facts:

1. House flies live on a liquid diet

Yes, it is true. Flies tend to live on fluid-based diets. They don’t have the right kind of mouth for chewing so must drink instead. A house fly regurgitates digestive fluids into solid foods to break up the food into small pieces, which allows them to use their mouth, called a proboscis, for drinking it.

2. They can taste with their feet

Just like butterflies, flies can taste food using their feet!

It all comes down to the taste receptors being located in their lower legs and feet. When the flies land on the food, which can be anything from animal manure to your lunch, they will often walk around to give their next meal a good taste before consumption.

3. The house fly poops … a lot

And they are not too worried about where they do it well! As you know, houseflies live on a liquid diet. Therefore, their digestive systems can move quite quickly, which means they often defecate. It is speculated that the house fly can have a bowel movement every time they land, even if it is on their next meal! For help with a fly problem, contact Pest Control Essex at a site like Essex Pest Control through ST Georges

4. They can spread diseases

Because of their eating and breeding habits, flies come into contact with a variety of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. Therefore, the house fly often will help spread these bacteria passing them to us by getting on our things, like food and cooking equipment.

5. House flies are able to walk upside down

The anatomy of house flies means they can walk and climb on most surfaces whether they are horizontal, vertical, or even inverted.

Each of their feet contain a fatty pad with tiny hairs that create a sticky substance of sugar and oils that provides them with a very good grip, perfect for scaling any surface.

6. Flies can see what’s happening behind them

Yes, the house fly can see what’s happening behind him because they have incredible eyes!

Unlike humans, a house fly has compound eyes. It’s a complicated eye that gives them almost a 360-degree field of view, allowing them to see behind themselves. The house fly’s eye does not move. Being able to see in every direction enables them to navigate while also being alert to danger.

7. House flies have amazing reactions

Ever wonder why it’s so hard to swat a fly? Well, it’s down to their fast reaction time and agility.

House flies can process what they see and react in accordance with incredible speed. To put things into perspective, our brains process approximately 60 frames per second, while the flies can process about 250 in a single second.

8. They have unhygienic habits

House flies will lay eggs on items such as poop, rotting carcasses and decomposing fruit. Why do they do this? Well, it’s all to do with having an instant food supply when their larvae hatch. Yuck!