Flies, a diverse group of insects belonging to the order Diptera, stand out among their insect counterparts for a distinctive characteristic—having a single pair of wings. In the intricate tapestry of the insect world, where most species boast two pairs of wings, the name "Diptera" aptly encapsulates their unique evolution, meaning "two wings." This exceptional feature has been shaped over time, as the ancestors of true flies developed a robust set of front wings, while the hind wings evolved into specialized club-like structures known as halteres. These halteres, although non-functional as wings, contribute to the sophisticated aerodynamics of flies.
The Diptera order encompasses a staggering array of species, estimated to exceed 100,000 worldwide. Found on every continent, including the cold reaches of Antarctica (with a limited presence of three species, two of which occur naturally), flies inhabit diverse habitats. From familiar environments like forests, wetlands, and jungles to extreme locales such as hot springs boasting temperatures of 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44°C) or crude oil pools, flies exhibit unparalleled adaptability.
While commonly identified by two-word names like bot flies, house flies, and deer flies, true flies share the Diptera order. In contrast, other insects incorporating "fly" into their names, such as dragonflies, butterflies, and stoneflies, belong to different orders. This subtle nomenclature distinction reflects the immense diversity within the world of flies.
Flies undergo complete metamorphosis, progressing through distinct stages—egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Notably, the larval stage marks a period of voracious feeding, with larvae consuming a wide range of materials, including plant matter, organic substances, feces, flesh, and garbage. Their dietary habits contribute to their role as decomposers, recycling organic matter in various ecosystems.
Female flies lay eggs, numbering from a few to over a hundred, depending on the species. These eggs find their way into diverse locations—mammal flesh, dung, soil, flowers, or even on other flies. After a developmental period of approximately one day, larvae emerge, commencing an intense period of feeding. Notably, fly larvae lack legs but compensate with their voracious appetites, devouring nearly anything in their path.
Complete metamorphosis leads to the pupal stage, marked by the development of a hard outer shell. Following about a week in this stage, the adult fly emerges, marking the final phase of metamorphosis. The adult lifespan varies significantly among species, ranging from a mere week to several months.
Flies, often associated with the common housefly in the public imagination, encompass a vast array of forms. Mosquitoes, for example, are also classified as flies, showcasing the diversity in size, shape, and color within the order. From the tiny 1mm specimens to larger counterparts exceeding 7cm, flies display remarkable variability.
While flies, particularly mosquitoes, have earned a negative reputation for disease transmission, playing a pivotal role in the spread of malaria, they also contribute positively to ecosystems. Some midge flies serve as essential pollinators for cacao trees, playing a crucial role in chocolate production. In gardens, flies assist in pest control by preying on harmful insects, showcasing their ecological significance.
Public perception of flies varies widely, with some viewing them as pests, others considering them symbols of prosperity through hard work, and ancient civilizations, like the Egyptians, associating them with bravery, as evidenced by pendant shapes. Flies evoke diverse reactions—annoyance, economic significance in pollination and pest control, and, unfortunately, disease vectors in certain contexts.
In conclusion, flies, within the Diptera order, emerge as a fascinating and diverse group of insects, both in terms of their evolutionary adaptations and ecological roles. Their single pair of wings, metamorphic life cycle, and broad environmental presence contribute to their complex tapestry in the intricate world of insects. Despite the mixed sentiments they evoke, flies undeniably play essential roles in ecological processes, shaping the ecosystems they inhabit.
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3. 5 unsolved secrets of the world
The case of lead masks - this is the story of two corpses found on Winn Hill near the city of Niteroi in Brazil on August 20, 1966. The name of the case was given to two lead masks found on the faces of the dead. Both corpses were lying on a bed of leaves, dressed in business suits and waterproof raincoats. Next to the bodies lay a notebook in which there was a note with approximately the following content: "16:30 be in a designated place 18:30 swallow the capsule and after which illegible words and the word mask." The dead were local radio engineering is interested in ufology. So one of the police versions was that they were killed by lightning or that they were experimented on and all their money was stolen. However, the first version was rejected by experts and the second version seemed too far-fetched. There were also versions that they were plunged into a trance or something else, a UFO is to blame for their death. However, the death of these people is still shrouded in darkness. Mysteries, see electrical shop number 10, all sorts of legends. Of course, everyone refers to a gas leak, some kind of explosion, an accident, but not. The story of the orange Medan ship begins in 1947 when two American ships received an SOS signal for help. A man who was a member of the crew of a Dutch ship, an orange Medan, a man screamed, everyone is dead and soon it will come for me, then after a strange noise, the sailor said I’m dead and the broadcast stopped. Having come to the aid of the ship in distress, American ships discovered the corpses of all crew members. And despite the fact that they died many hours ago, their body temperature was over 40°. When they tried to tow the ship, it caught fire and exploded, sinking to the bottom. And despite the story of both crews of American ships, many claim that the ship named Orange Medan simply did not, there was, however, there is evidence from several people that their relatives were hired on such a ship and there are even two photographs of this ship, however, neither the purpose of the voyage nor the cause of the disaster is known, how did the crew die. October 21, 1978, excellent flying weather plane from Rabin with a pilot named Frederic Valenti who has more than 50 hours of flying practice behind him. In the middle of the flight, the pilot contacts the base and asks if there are military aircraft flying near him, receiving a negative answer he began to talk about the fact that that big plane is flying over it as if it was starting some kind of game for 6 minutes while there is a dialogue between the pilot and the dispatcher, the connection is constantly lost and the pilot coughs more and more, and then in 1912 the connection with the pilot stops, the search teams sent to search for the plane, nothing they didn’t find anything other than an oil stain on the bass strait, and that stain was not the plane’s fuel; an interesting fact was the pilot’s last words that it was not an airplane. However, knowing about his passion for ufology, one can assume that this is all mind games, however, Australian ufologists consider this one of the most reliable evidence of contact of aliens with us is still not clear what happened to Valentich. However, among cynics, thoughts of suicide and faking death prevail Although the plane and pilot were never found. Canadian Oak Island hides many secrets, one of them - this is the possible discovery of untold riches in the so-called money mine. The history of the discovery of this mine is somewhat different: someone says that children aged about 16 years old stumbled upon it in 1975, someone says that an old sailor who drowned in 1805 spoke about the mine and treasures when his grandson found a map of the island from my grandfather and took it to my grandfather’s colleagues, who without hesitation promised to help. However, it burned down along with all the documents. The very next night, under the ashes, a deep mine was discovered, which many generations of treasure hunters began to dig up; they went deeper into the mine. However, despite the fact that 60 m had been dug, it was not possible to find the treasure, whether there were treasures there and whose they actually are still remains a mystery. However, interest in the money mine is fading away every day and brought only a few stories on a similar topic. Yes, a documentary series about the excavations of the mine on Oak Island. One of the most famous serial killers acted in London in the second half of 1888, the Whitechapel killer, aka Jack the Ripper, is one of the most famous names of a serial maniac. In addition, the maniac has many uncaught victims. However, the number ranges from 1 to 15, although only five victims of the Ripper are considered canonical; they were prostitutes whose throats he strangled and cut; an interesting feature of the criminal was that he was sure that he would not be caught; this is evidenced by the letters he wrote to the police; there were many letters received. However, only three were definitely sent by Jack the Ripper, by the way, the name appeared from the first letter; the most notable ones are considered the third letter, called from hell, delivered with half a kidney; the letter says that the second half was eaten by a maniac; there were many suspects in the case; however, it was known for sure about the surgical skills of the maniac; nevertheless, Jack also disappeared suddenly, how he appeared and it is still unknown who he was and why he disappeared. Did he die, did he go to prison, did he escape from London, all these theories apparently will remain theories without shedding any light on this mysterious killer.
By Triumphant4 days ago in Earth
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