Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: neilep on 16/04/2007 14:28:56

Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: neilep on 16/04/2007 14:28:56
Deraest Luff chums ,

Right this minute is a fly......dive bombing me and generally making a bloody nuisance of itself !!

Is there any redeeming feature to flies at all ?.....even one ?

Because I can't think of one !!.........I mean they don't pollinate plants do they ?

Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: Seany on 16/04/2007 14:35:44
Urmm.. I doubt they pollinate plants, because they don't really go near it, like bees. They don't make honey. They live off dung and waste food. They are dirty. Then come to our homes, spread dirty bacteria. They are noisy as hell and bug you to death until you swat them. After you swat it, it goes all manky.

Thus, no redeeming feature! [;D]
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: that mad man on 16/04/2007 17:29:49
Maybe one or two redeeming features as they lay eggs that turn to maggots.

Maggots are used for fishing and have now been rediscovered for treating some wounds.

But flies, after landing on poo and stomping on it they then land on you. Yuck!

Get one of these as they do work.

http://www.sourcing4u.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=28&kw=fly%20swat&fl=4821

Have fun when bored, the flies crackle well!

Bee

 
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: another_someone on 16/04/2007 17:50:57
They live off dung and waste food. They are dirty.

Refuse collectors live off waste and things we consider dirty, but are invaluable.  Flies are merely natures refuse collectors.  Would you really want dung to remain forever pristine, like you plastic bags, never to degrade or recycle themselves into the environment.

Ofcourse, there are flies I would not regard as benignly - like screw worm flies (their larvae do not live off dung and food waste).
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: Bored chemist on 16/04/2007 19:53:35
Some plants are polinated by flies.
Probably the biggest flower in the world
http://www.lostworldarts.com/asia/rafflesia_2.htm

And also the bigest inflorescence (a compound flower made of lots of little ones)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_arum

These both have the interesting property that they stink. They smell of rotting meat to attract flies as pollinators.
Of course, if the only purpose of flies was to keep stinky floweres going.....
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: neilep on 16/04/2007 20:47:53
Maybe one or two redeeming features as they lay eggs that turn to maggots.

Maggots are used for fishing and have now been rediscovered for treating some wounds.

But flies, after landing on poo and stomping on it they then land on you. Yuck!

Get one of these as they do work.

http://www.sourcing4u.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=28&kw=fly%20swat&fl=4821

Have fun when bored, the flies crackle well!

Bee

 

YES YES YES !!!!ewe are absolutely right about the maggot treatment of sores and wounds !!..THANK EWE for reminding me of that !!


LOL...luff the link !!!....Thank You TMM !!!
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: neilep on 16/04/2007 20:50:56
They live off dung and waste food. They are dirty.

Refuse collectors live off waste and things we consider dirty, but are invaluable.  Flies are merely natures refuse collectors.  Would you really want dung to remain forever pristine, like you plastic bags, never to degrade or recycle themselves into the environment.

Ofcourse, there are flies I would not regard as benignly - like screw worm flies (their larvae do not live off dung and food waste).

THANKS for this George......It'd a struggle to accept that flies do in fact have a use in the world...but .....I suppose if they are natures crap collectors then someone ought to instill a fly code of conduct so that they do not spread it around amongst other species !!
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: neilep on 16/04/2007 20:54:31
Some plants are polinated by flies.
Probably the biggest flower in the world
http://www.lostworldarts.com/asia/rafflesia_2.htm

And also the bigest inflorescence (a compound flower made of lots of little ones)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_arum

These both have the interesting property that they stink. They smell of rotting meat to attract flies as pollinators.
Of course, if the only purpose of flies was to keep stinky floweres going.....

THANK EWE BC.....they are some pretty massive flowers happening right there. I am sure I remember see David Attenborough almost throw up being next to one........

sheesh.....so we have to thank flies for pollinating these !


THANKS everyone...seems flies do have redeeming features after all.....THWACK !!!...Got the bugger !!!

Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: Karen W. on 20/04/2007 16:36:44
They are still annoying as heck! especially the ones that constantly buzz your mouth trying to gain entrance .. Yuck...
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: neilep on 20/04/2007 16:39:12
They are still annoying as heck! especially the ones that constantly buzz your mouth trying to gain entrance .. Yuck...

I did swallow a fly once !..I almost puked yacking it up !!
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: tony6789 on 20/04/2007 16:43:48
if flies go extinct that cud b a total cotastrophie
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: neilep on 21/04/2007 14:50:12
if flies go extinct that cud b a total cotastrophie

I suppose it ' could be '.....I don't think I'd be complaining for a while anyway !!...though the chances are very very remote...cos there's lots of them !!
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: Karen W. on 21/04/2007 15:20:53
They are still annoying as heck! especially the ones that constantly buzz your mouth trying to gain entrance .. Yuck...

I did swallow a fly once !..I almost puked yacking it up !!

Yes indeedy I had that same experience ..LOL..Yuckk and was equally disgusted and sick to my stomach trying to get it out!!!!! LOL LOL LOL.... HEE HEE HEE!!
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: that mad man on 21/04/2007 15:55:05
Oh, noooooooooooooooo!

I got that song in my head now, sorry all.

"I know an old lady that swallowed a fly".......................... [;D]

Bee
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: Karen W. on 22/04/2007 07:23:24
LOL.. LOL I don't know why she followed a fly.. perhaps she'll die!!
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: tony6789 on 23/04/2007 16:38:01
if she swallowed a fly then now she has to swallow a venus fly trap!!!
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: Ben6789 on 24/04/2007 16:42:53
Everything is important somehow neil, whether we see it or not.
Title: Flies are like War....what are they good for ?...absolutely nothing !!
Post by: tony6789 on 25/04/2007 18:04:13
haha check the one topic thingy about the thing!!! ummm..yea..i forgte wats it called just check it!