The reason why flies rub their front legs is not just one, The reasons are different, from hygiene to communication. This very common gesture seen in flies has several curious explanations that we are going to tell you.
Therefore, do not miss the article that follows where, in addition to the reason for rubbing the paws, we will talk about other curiosities of flies.
Why do flies rub their front legs?
Flies rub their front legs, anyone who has observed a fly has noticed this. It is common for a fly to land near us and we see how it rubs its front legs, as if it were a gangster who was plotting a plan. Flies do not make plans by rubbing their hands, but this such a habitual and natural act It is a constant in their short life that allows them to clean themselves, communicate and also know their environment.
Flies are flying insects belonging to the order Diptera. They have two wings and a pair of halteres that act as balancers during flight. Their diet consists of liquid or semi-solid substances that they suck or sip. Although we usually see or recognize the typical black fly or house fly, there are many more species of flies, such as the flesh fly or the fruit fly. There are approximately 160.000 species of flies around the world.
Reasons why flies rub their front legs
Cleaning
As we have mentioned, there are several reasons why flies make this very frequent gesture. And rubbing the paws is a hygiene habit; They clean and disinfect their paws, Removing food scraps or other items that may have stuck to surfaces while walking or resting. This behavior is essential to maintaining your health and preventing the spread of disease.
Communication
By rubbing their paws, the flies They emit pheromones that help them communicate Among them, they mark their territory, attract mates, and even feed themselves. This aspect is essential for their social interaction and reproduction.
Related to the senses
In addition to marking their territory, flies can sense their surroundings through their legs, which is something that helps you explore and get familiar with the place where they are. We could compare it to the way a dog sniffs an area to get to know it. This developed sense is vital for their survival.
Other curiosities of flies
After knowing this curious fact about flies, perhaps you are left wanting to know more, and that is why we are going to talk about 10 curiosities about flies that you probably didn't know.
We know that flies are annoying little bugs that when the heat comes they get into our houses and don't stop flying, landing on our arms, bothering our pets and a long etcetera. But, these little bugs also have some curious things to know.
10 curiosities about flies
- The flies They detect movement 50 times faster than a human. This is the reason why when we want to catch a fly or hit it with a cloth it is so difficult to achieve.
- Su sense of taste is overdeveloped, It allows them to detect from a distance whether a food is going to be sweet, salty or sour, for example.
- Its flight speed is de up to 8 kilometers per hour and have a maneuvering ability excellent, allowing them to perform pirouettes in the air to escape their predators.
- The flies are carriers of up to more than 65 diseases that can affect humans, although it is something that is quite controlled. These diseases include salmonella, cholera or dysentery.
- Your life is very shortDepending on the species, it will live a few weeks or, at most, a couple of months.
- The flies they regurgitate food to digest them before consuming them completely.
- The eyes of flies are compound, allowing them to see in all directions, They have a panoramic vision very useful to escape from predators and get food.
- They fold their wings completely to move better in narrow spaces.
- When lay eggs, they choose decomposing organic matter (garbage, excrement, rotten food, etc...) This is beneficial for nature as it contributes to decomposition and recycling. They can lay hundreds of eggs at a time and when these larvae are born they feed on organic matter until they become adult flies.
- They are little bugs important in the food chain of birds, spiders and other insects.
Tips to avoid flies at home
Although it may sound obvious, if the house is with the windows and doors open, flies will enter, so the best way to avoid them is install mosquito nets and curtains that prevent them from passing through.
When there is no way to prevent its passage, we can do different things so that their number is reduced:
- Having the Clean house and without food within reach where they can reproduce and raise more flies.
- Place anti-fly cloths in those areas where they are more frequent.
- Use repellents lemongrass, lavender or basil.
