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Flies belong to the order of Diptera insects, and they fall in this category because they fly using only one pair of wings. Having transformed into halteres, the hindwings help flies with rotational movements and acrobatics. An estimated 1,000,000 species of flies make up the Diptera order, including horse flies, hoverflies, crane flies, etc.
The physical composition of flies includes a mobile head, a pair of huge eyes, and sharp mouths that aid piercing and sucking, as in the case of robber flies, black flies, and mosquitoes. For wings, flies have an arrangement that enables them to maneuver when flying. They also have claws and pads as feet that allow them to cling to surfaces.
Perhaps, you are already wondering what all these fly stats are about. Well, if you read on, you will learn how they all contribute to the pollination of your garden and plants. So, please ensure to read to the end for the fantastic information about flies and pollination you are about to discover.
Are Flies Pollinators?
Gardeners love to see their gardens thrive, and pollinators render a lot of assistance in that regard. Usually, people think of butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees as the significant pollen carriers, but then, how about flies? Are flies pollinators?
The answer to the above question is yes. Several species of flies are pollinators, and it is fascinating to discover the different pollinating flies and how they carry out their pollination. You should know that bees don’t hold all the power when it comes to pollinating flowers. This is because birds, mammals, and insects can be pollinators too. However, flies are not intentional pollinators because they often do it by accident while trying to feed on a flower’s or plant’s nectar.
Indeed, bees come first when it comes to the order of plant and flower pollination. However, flies also carry out pollination actions, though incidental. Some pollinating flies do so only for certain flowering plants, while others are general pollinators.
Moreover, flies aid the pollination process of over 100 crop types and are the primary pollen carriers for cacao trees. In fact, some species of flowers, such as corpse flowers and skunk cabbage, emit the smell of rotten meat to attract flies for pollination.
Some fly species of Diptera order that pollinate include house flies, blowflies, March flies, hoverflies, lovebugs, and biting midges.
How Flies Help with Pollination
To understand how much flies help with pollination, it is essential to acknowledge that the history of fly pollination is ancient. So, it has been at this job for quite some time. Scientists discovered from fossils that beetles and flies are the primary pollen carriers of early flowers, and you can trace this as far back as 150 million years ago.
Flies do not carry nectar and pollen like honeybees. They merely sip on their flower nectar and incidentally carry pollen from one flower to another.
Also, several fly species develop body hairs, which pollens adhere to and move with the fly from flower to flower. Flies are more concerned about sustenance, and they also desire warmth. Therefore, some flowers benefit from keeping flies warm while they feast on their nectar. In turn, these plants receive the pollen from the fly’s body.
Conclusion
It is established that flies are essential to the germination of plants, and we have discussed the relationship between flies and pollination in this article. Indeed, you have learned new information about the insect and how it contributes to the pollination process.
So, when next you are about to swat a fly, remember how significant these tiny insects are to the production of fruits and flowers.
