why do flies blow bubbles

[lesno1]

[DanK]

Geoff can give you a more authoritative answer, but I think it's because they actually can't chew and instead use their saliva to break apart what they eat.

Nice capture.

[Astro]

Geoff will no doubt provide an authoritive answer but as I understand it, as Dan says,flies actually disgorge digestive juices onto their food in order to break it down into a mush which can then be sucked up.
This also explains why they can pass on pathogens to us so easily!

I still quite like photographing them regardless of their eating habits and I note that having also photographed a similar 'bubble' on occasion that it also was orange in colour!

[Geoff F]

There are a number of theories about this procedure. The most common are that it is a means of secondary digesting or a way of cooling down when their body is at risk of over heating. But there doesn't seem to be any real proof either way.

[lesno1]

Thanks guys but it looks like the jury is still out

[DanK]

Thanks guys but it looks like the jury is still out

Indeed it is. Geoff's comment made me curious, so I looked on dipertera.info, my go-to source for all things fly-related, and found this fascinating (to me, anyway) discussion: https://diptera.info/articles.php?article_id=16. If you read it, it's worth reading to the end of the comments (there are only 7), because the last comment is very informative.

PS: You'll see a few comments by "Lord V". That's Brian Venentari (sp), in my opinion one of the foremost live-insect macro photographers working now. He sometimes posts here: https://photography-on-the.net/forum...splay.php?f=38

[escape]

Thanks guys but it looks like the jury is still out

I think I got it. Why do flies blow bubbles? Because they can't whistle.

Interesting image.

[DanK]

I think I got it. Why do flies blow bubbles? Because they can't whistle.

Interesting image.

But are you sure? You'd have to listen very closely.

[Martin A]

I think I got it. Why do flies blow bubbles? Because they can't whistle.

Interesting image.

😂