House flies are a common pest that can be found in homes worldwide. While we see them buzzing around our kitchens and landing on our food during the day, many people wonder what house flies get up to when the sun goes down. Where do they go at night? What do they do in the dark?
House flies tend to be most active during daylight hours. However, they don’t simply power down at night like little robots. House flies continue living their fly lives after dark! Keep reading to learn all about what house flies do at night.
Where Do House Flies Go At Night?
During the day, house flies can often be found flying around indoor spaces like kitchens and bathrooms looking for food sources and optimal places to lay their eggs. But when night falls, where do all the house flies go to rest?
House flies don’t actually travel very far when the sun goes down. At night, they prefer to remain close to food sources and protected areas suitable for resting. Here are some of the places house flies like to hang out after dark:
Inside The Home
– Cupboards, pantries, and cabinets in the kitchen containing food items. Crumbs and spills provide nourishment.
– Garbage bins and trash cans full of waste food scraps.
– Windows, doors, and any gaps or cracks leading outdoors.
– Light fixtures and lamps that give off warmth.
– Undersides of furniture, above cabinets, and in dark corners.
Inside Barns Or Sheds
– Rafters and beams on ceilings and walls.
– Manure piles. Allow larvae development.
– Feed bins and hay bales. Provide nourishment.
– Boxes, buckets, and bins storing tools. Offer shelter.
– Stables and animal pens. Give access to hosts.
Outdoors
– Branches, leaves, and crevices in trees. Offer protection.
– Under eaves, porch overhangs, and roof edges. Stay dry.
– Compost piles filled with rotting vegetation. Lay eggs.
– Around garbage dumpsters and waste areas. Scavenge for food.
– Inside grills, playground equipment, and patio furniture. Find warmth.
What Do House Flies Do At Night?
Now that we know where house flies tend to congregate after the sun goes down, what kinds of behaviors and activities do they engage in during the nocturnal hours? Here’s a look at how flies spend their nights:
Resting And Sleeping
Just like humans and other animals, house flies need time to rest and recharge at night. They will find sheltered areas in their overnight hideouts to settle down and get some shut eye. Flies may appear to always be zipping around rapidly, but they do settle down for periods of sleep and inactivity.
Digesting Meals
House flies eat frequently throughout the day, consuming liquid foods like nectar and juices as well as digesting solids via regurgitation and sponging. At night, flies digest and metabolize all the food they consumed during daylight hours. This digestion process provides the energy flies need to be active the following day.
Grooming And Cleaning
Flies groom themselves while at rest, using bristled pads on their legs to clean their bodies and wings. This grooming removes debris and parasites acquired during the day. Proper cleaning helps flies stay healthy and active.
Seeking Mates And Breeding
Cooler nighttime temperatures are ideal for house flies to mate and breed. Males seek out receptive females by identifying their pheromones. After mating, females lay batches of eggs on decaying matter like garbage, carrion, and feces that will nourish the larvae once they hatch.
Regurgitating And Feeding
Adult flies may regurgitate liquid onto solid food sources at night to liquify them for consumption. This makes the food more palatable for fly larvae as well. Adult flies unable to find daytime meals may engage in more feeding at night.
Developing As Larvae
Fly larvae (maggots) spend approximately 3-10 days maturing in their food source before transforming into pupae and then into adults. The larval stage involves constant feeding and growth. The larval lifestyle is entirely nocturnal.
Nocturnal Adaptations In House Flies
What adaptations do house flies have that enable them to make the most of the nighttime environment? Here are some of their specializations:
– Large, sensitive eyes with multiple facets provide excellent vision in low light.
– Preference for resting in dark crevices and corners avoids detection.
– Attraction to artificial light sources helps locate manmade food sources.
– Ability to detect pheromones assists in finding mates after dark.
– Low required minimum temperature allows activity in cool nights.
– Higher fat storage supports nighttime fasting between meals.
– Lower nocturnal predation risk improves survival odds.
Conclusion
Although we mostly see house flies active during the day, they have a whole suite of behaviors, activities, and adaptations that keep them busy after the sun goes down as well. Flies continue seeking food, resting, mating, laying eggs, and developing larvae throughout the nighttime hours. Their nocturnal actions support their survival and their role as pervasive pests. The next time you see flies zipping around your kitchen, remember that they likely snuck in from a nearby nighttime hiding spot and are ready for a busy day of annoying human hosts and spreading germs. Being aware of house fly habits and hideouts both day and night can help you control these pests and protect your home.