How Do Flies Survive the Winter? A Detailed Explanation of Fly Overwintering Methods

Different flies have different ways of overwintering. For example, the common housefly, before the end of its life cycle, lays eggs in feces so that the next generation of flies can safely overwinter; the cluster fly, on the other hand, seeks out cracks or holes before winter arrives to escape the severe cold.

1. A Basic Introduction to Flies

1. Appearance

The fly genus ranges from small to medium in size, with short antennae of only 3 segments; the tip of the last segment bears an arista, or the back of the last segment bears a feathery bristle known as the antennal arista. There are 2 compound eyes and 3 simple eyes. The mouthparts are of the sponging type. The forewings are membranous and used for flight. The hindwings are reduced to halteres, hidden beneath the wing flaps at the base of the forewings.

2. Food

Flies have very complex feeding habits and are omnivorous flies that can feed on a wide variety of substances, including human food, the secretions and excretions of humans and livestock and poultry, kitchen scraps and other garbage, and plant sap.

3. Egg Laying

The peak period for flies to lay eggs is from 17:00 to 19:00 each day. The housefly lays about 100 eggs per batch, and one female fly can lay 10-20 batches in her lifetime, with a total egg output of 600-1000 eggs. In nature, each female fly can also lay 4-6 batches in her lifetime, with an interval of 3-4 days between batches, about 100 eggs per batch, and a lifetime egg output of 400-600 eggs.

2. How Are Flies Eliminated?

1. Flypaper

A type of adhesive paper that traps flies. To use it, peel the prepared flypaper apart by hand from the edge of the paper and place it in places where flies often fly or gather; as soon as a fly touches or lands on the paper, it will be firmly stuck. If hung near a light, it can also catch mosquitoes and other flying insects.

2. Fly Killer Lamp

Fly killer lamps can be divided by their trapping and killing function into electric shock type and adhesive trap type. Both work on the principle of using light to lure insects and flies, inducing them to approach the lamp tube, so that the insects come into contact with the high-voltage electric grid or flypaper near the fly killer lamp and are electrocuted or stuck, thereby achieving the purpose of killing insects and flies.