Sodastream on Nostr: Why flies love shit. Flies are built for it. Their antennae pick up the volatile ...

Why flies love shit.

Flies are built for it. Their antennae pick up the volatile gases rotting organic matter gives off, and dog poop is basically a buffet of protein, moisture, and bacteria they can both eat and lay eggs in. The larvae that hatch feed on it directly. Most other insects simply don’t register it as food or a nursery, and some actively avoid the bacterial load. Flies have gut bacteria and immune tricks that let them shrug off what would sicken something else.
One wrinkle worth knowing: not all flies are equal here. Blowflies and flesh flies are the real specialists. Houseflies are more generalist scavengers that happen to tolerate feces well. If you ever want to see the difference in action, a piece of raw meat left out will attract a different crowd than a fresh deposit.