Why Do Flies Like Poop?

Ah, the things we ponder. It’s just one of the many questions that might pop into your head when you’re staring off into space. Then, you type it into a search engine and here you are! Discover why flies like poop, what other things they like, and how they stay clean considering what they’re into.

Why Do Flies Like Poop?

It’s hard for you to understand the attraction to poop because it doesn’t contain the fats, proteins, and minerals that you need to survive. But for flies, it’s a buffet. What you find repulsive (trash, rotting food, feces), flies get excited about. They consume the poop, basically. Not only that though, but some flies also look to poop as a great place to breed. Stable flies, for instance, use cat poop to lay their eggs.

Poop doesn’t pose any serious threat to flies the way it does to humans. It’s where they get their nutrients and they’re not the only ones. There are other insects that gravitate to feces like beetles, ticks, and fleas. Poop has a rather soft, moist consistency that flies like to settle in. It provides them with warmth, which is also why they like to give their eggs a cozy spot within the little valleys of poop piles.

What Else Do Flies Like?

Generally, if it’s gross for you, flies are into it. A plump fruit that was alluring only a few days ago can turn into a gross, decaying mess. Flies like that. You’re picking up the mess your kids make and step onto dried, sticky soda stains on the floor — flies are all over it. You left your meat out on a hot, humid day and completely forgot about it. The smell slaps you in the face when you walk through the door. Yup, flies like that too. It’s why they’re often called “filth flies.” To each their own!

How Do Flies Clean Themselves?

Considering how they’re constantly landing on and feeding off filthy matter, they must be dirty, right? Yes and no. On the one hand, you don’t want to eat anything that flies have gotten cozy on. They carry viruses and parasites, which can make you sick. On the other hand, flies are littered with tiny receptors that allow them to taste their food even before they eat it. They can’t just walk or fly around with all these different flavors all over their bodies. It’s why they pause, do that little rubbing-their-hands-together motion, and also clean their faces and eyes. So, while still gross to you, they do clean up often!