Pesky blow flies are out and about
It is a good idea to not let flies sit on food that you intend to eat as flies regurgitate some of their last meal onto the food that as this aids them in feeding, however it can also spread disease.
“WITH summer just around the corner we are going to see an increase of pests like flies.
Flies are one of those pesky insects that most of us love to hate, they are filthy disease carrying pests. But, are they all bad?”
According to Warren Dick, there are many hundreds of thousands of different fly species and there are many hundreds of different life cycles and feeding habits for them.
“For this article I am going to concentrate on the blow fly, which is by far the most common fly species around. Coincidentally there are about 1 200 different blow fly species known to science.
“Simply because of their life cycle, their choices of food and the way in which they feed, blow flies spread various nasty diseases. It is still a good idea to not let flies sit on food that you intend to eat as flies regurgitate some of their last meal onto the food that as this aids them in feeding, however it can also spread disease. The fly that’s been ‘innocently’ sitting on your sandwich, could have been having a meal on your pets poop first, before coming to have a bite of your sandwich.”
Did you know that the blow fly is a very important tool in forensic science?
“These flies can smell carrion up to 1,6 kilometres away and hone in on the carcass to lay their eggs. The larvae hatches and feeds on the rotting flesh. By knowing the exact life cycle of each fly species, a forensic scientist can determine how long a body has been dead for.
“Did you know that blow flies are also important in the medical field?
“Scientists have figured out how to use the flies fetish for rotting flesh to their advantage. Specially bred, sterile blow fly maggots are used to treat wounds on patients that will not heal. The maggots get to work feeding on only the dead decaying flesh, also dealing with whatever infections there may be. In doing this the wound can heal properly and new flesh can begin to grow.
“So the blow fly is in fact not all bad. The beauty of the fly is something I always try to use as a metaphor for life, if this fly can turn out to look so beautiful and it started its life in a pile of poo, how much more beautiful can your life become, no matter where you may find yourself. With a bit of faith and God’s help your life can also turn into something beautiful,” he added.
Contact Warren to have some of your interesting insects, snakes or spiders identified. Call or Whatsapp him on 072 211 0353.
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