You might have heard about some different types of insects that are known to be quite intelligent, but as well as this, there are also those that are pretty dumb. Some insects serve a purpose, and for that, we can at least give them some credit, but others are more of a nuisance, but they don’t know any different, so we can’t really blame them. In this article, we are going to look at perhaps the dumbest insect on Earth, and tell you all about what they do and why they are not the most intelligent of species.
Though we don’t always know exactly what is going on in the mind of an insect, we can look at its behaviour to determine different things about it. Insects often do lots of things that we deem as clever, but there are also instances where we don’t really see any signs of intelligence. If you are interested in finding out which insect is the dumbest, then just keep on reading this article.
What is the Dumbest Insect?
Through our research and own experiences with insects, we have decided that the dumbest insects are definitely flies. Flies are typically quite stupid, which is understandable given the fact that they have tiny little brains. Interestingly, a fly’s brain has less computational power than a toaster. You can tell just by looking at their behaviour that they aren’t all there, like when they fly directly into deadly bug zappers like it is fun, and fly into things without a second thought. We aren’t going to give you a specific type of fly, as there are thousands of different types, but you know the ones we are talking about.
Why Can’t You Catch a Fly?
Given the fact that flies aren’t particularly bright, you’d think that they would be easy to catch, but as we all know, this isn’t the case. They always seem to be one step ahead of us when we are trying to get them away, and there is actually a reason that can explain all of this. We have probably all been in the position where we are trying to get rid of a fly but it somehow manages to know your every move and buzzes out of the way before you even move towards it. So, for insects with little intelligence, how are they able to do it?
The answer to this question is that compared to us humans, flies see the world around them much more slowly, almost as if in slow motion. Essentially, if you were to see something move at one speed, a fly would see it about four times slower, which is really interesting. There are some animals and insects that might see things more quickly, but it is the opposite for flies. So, the speed of time is much different for them. This allows them to piece together the reality around them much differently, and they can also process the images around them much more quickly. The fly that you are trying to catch is not out-smarting you, they are just simply able to see differently to you.
How Long Do Flies Live?
Long enough to be a nuisance. Interestingly, the average lifespan of a fly is really short in comparison to other insects, but the amount of time in specific will depend on what type of fly it is. The life expectancy of a fly will determine how much damage they are able to do, and their rate of reproduction will mark the severity of an infestation.
For the average housefly, they only typically live for around a month, but in that time, females are able to lay around 5 to 6 batches of eggs. So, for every one housefly, you are going to get lots more. Unfortunately, these flies are able to reproduce all year round.
If we were looking at fruit flies, then their average life span is a bit longer than that of a housefly. These flies are able to live for around 40 to 50 days, and like house flies, they produce several new generations of flies along the way. One fruit fly alone is able to produce up to 500 offspring throughout her short lifetime.
If you were wondering, the lifecycle of a fly has four different stages of development. Typically, the female will directly lay her eggs on a food source, and once they are able to hatch, the larvae start to feed. They are then able to transform into pupae, and then on to fully grown adults. A fly egg will take anywhere from one day to one week to hatch into the larvae stage, which isn’t much time at all.
What Does A Fly Do If It Lands On You?
You might be wondering why a fly would land on you when you are probably only going to turn around and swat it. Yes, it is quite stupid for a fly to constantly fly towards and land on danger, yet they do it anyway. A fly actually has a very soft, fleshy, and sponge-like mouth, and after it has landed on you, it will not bite, it will suck up any secretions that are on the surface of your skin. This could include things like sweat, proteins, carbohydrates, chemicals, and much more. It will also be interested in any dead skin that is flaking off of you.
How to Keep Flies Out of Your House When the Door is Open?
The main reason that flies are coming into your house is that they are looking for a food source, so you should make sure that any food that is left out has been covered. You should also make sure that your waste bin is completely closed and that you clean it regularly. Keep any bins out of direct sunlight to avoid an increase in smells which will only attract more flies. Finally, you should store any ripe fruit in the refrigerator and make sure that it is eaten up by its sell-by date.
