FLY
Musca domestica
SPECIES OVERVIEW
Meet the ubiquitous house fly.
This seemingly mundane insect harbors a less-than-appealing trait that highlights its role in the ecosystem. Flies are known for their remarkable ability to process and spread organic waste. They lay their eggs in decomposing materials, including garbage and feces, where their larvae, known as maggots, play a crucial role in breaking down and recycling organic matter.
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However, this same process makes them vectors for various pathogens, as they can transfer bacteria from these unsanitary sources to other insect habitats and food sources.
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If you're intrigued by nature's recyclers and the complex interplay between hygiene and ecology, the fly presents a fascinating, if somewhat repulsive, game play style!
KEY FEATURES
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Strengths:
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Highly efficient reproductive cycle
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Remarkable flying agility and speed
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Ability to detect food sources from a distance
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Can devastate entire colonies by infecting food sources
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Access to diseases.
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Weaknesses:
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Susceptibility to any attacks
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Limited lifespan
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Dependency on organic waste for reproduction
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No armour
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Little life
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No physical attacks
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Life Cycle:
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Egg: The life cycle of a fly starts when a female lays her eggs in decomposing organic material, such as garbage or feces, providing an immediate food source for the larvae.
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Larva: Upon hatching, the larvae, commonly known as maggots, feed voraciously on the decomposing matter around them. This stage is crucial for rapid growth and development.
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Pupa: After several molts, the larvae develop into pupae, encasing themselves in a protective shell where they undergo metamorphosis, transitioning from larval to adult form.
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Adult: Emerging as fully developed adults, house flies are equipped with wings and compound eyes, ready to feed, mate, and continue the cycle. Adults are known for their persistent flying, seeking out food and breeding sites.
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Biome
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Ubiquitous presence, thriving particularly well in close proximity to where food waste and organic matter are abundant.
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Nests
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Flies do not construct traditional nests; instead, females lay eggs in suitable material that will provide food for the emerging larvae.​
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Food
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Adult flies feed on a wide range of liquid or semi-liquid substances, including nectar, plant sap, and animal secretions. They are also attracted to food and waste, which they can liquefy with their saliva before ingesting.
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