Leslie Massey
Australia is home to about 30,000 species of flies, with some sources citing a figure of 10,000 and others suggesting there are almost a million species worldwide. While flies are often considered a nuisance, they play an important role in the ecosystem as pollinators and decomposers. They are also a food source for many animals, including birds, bats, spiders, fish, and lizards. This paragraph will explore what eats flies in Australia and the role these insects play in the country's environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birds | Flycatchers, swallows, martins, swifts, chickens, turkeys, and other poultry |
| Bats | Consume hundreds or even thousands of flies per night |
| Insects | Jumping spiders, crab spiders, dragonflies |
| Amphibians | Frogs and toads |
| Fish | Trout, catfish, bass, betta fish, goldfish |
| Reptiles | Lizards like anoles, swifts, chameleons, iguanas |
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What You'll Learn
Birds, including flycatchers, swallows, martins, and swifts
Several bird species in Australia eat flies. These include flycatchers, swallows, martins, and swifts.
Flycatchers
The least flycatcher is a small bird that is common across the East. It is one of the grayish olive flycatchers in the Empidonax group and is distinguished by its small size, bold white eyering, and distinctive chebec song. Despite their size, they are quick to quarrel with any bird that enters their territory, even those more than twice their size. They nest in clusters, creating a flycatcher neighbourhood with anywhere from 2 to 30 territories per cluster. The males in the best condition often get the centre territory and are the first to mate. If current rates of decline continue, least flycatchers are expected to lose another half of their population within the next 42 years.
Swallows
Swallows are summer visitors to the UK and are usually found in open country near water and farmland where flying insects are abundant. They are dark blue with a cream underside and have a characteristic tail with two distinctive streamers when in flight. They feed on flies and aphids, which they catch while flying. Swallows are known for their speed and aerial acrobatics, and they can outfly most predators.
Martins
The purple martin is the largest swallow in North America and is known for its speed, agility, and characteristic flight pattern of rapid flapping and gliding. They are aerial insectivores, feeding on insects in mid-flight. They are also known to eat fine gravel to aid their digestion. Purple martins are monogamous and males and females tend to stay together during the mating season.
Swifts
Swifts are dark brown, sickle-shaped, and lack the creamy underside of swallows. They are found in similar habitats as swallows and can be distinguished by their chattering call while in flight.
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Poultry, including chickens and turkeys
Flies can be a nuisance to poultry, including chickens and turkeys, but these birds will also eat flies. Chickens, in particular, are known to eat flies and their larvae, which can be a good source of nutrition and help prevent feather loss and increase egg production. The larvae and pupae stages of a fly's life are the most nutritious, and chickens will eat the larvae if they can get to them.
However, some chicken owners have observed that their chickens do not always eat flies, even when they are readily available. This may be because flies can carry more viruses and bacteria than other insects, and consuming too many flies could be harmful to the chickens. Additionally, flies are more mobile and may come into contact with unnatural substances, such as chemicals and plastics, which could be harmful to chickens if ingested.
To manage flies around poultry, there are various methods to consider. Insecticides, such as sprays and larvicides, can be used but should be applied carefully and never directly on the birds or near their feed and water. Fly traps and strips are another option, which can be hung near the coop to reduce the fly population without the risk of contaminating the chickens' food or water.
It is important to note that not all flies are harmful to poultry. For example, Black Soldier Flies and their larvae do not carry diseases, sting, or bite, so they can be safely kept around chickens.
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Bats
Australia is home to a variety of bat species, many of which play a crucial role in pest control by feeding on insects, including flies. Insectivorous bats, which make up the majority of bat species, are highly skilled hunters of flying insects, using their echolocation abilities to locate and capture their prey with precision, even in the dark.
The diet of insectivorous bats includes a diverse range of flying insects such as moths, beetles, mosquitoes, flies, ants, and termites, as well as arachnids like spiders. These bats are versatile and opportunistic feeders, adapting their diet based on the availability of insects in their surroundings. For example, some bats will swoop down to catch bugs on the ground or the surface of water, while others will wait patiently by a window, taking advantage of insects drawn to the light.
In Australia, bats provide a valuable service to the agricultural industry by preying on pests that can damage crops. A study in northern New South Wales found that seven species of insectivorous bats consumed 728 prey species, with significant cotton pests like the Australian bollworm and the cotton webspinner detected in 76% of bat fecal samples. This indicates that bats selectively target certain pests, playing an essential role in pest regulation and potentially saving the cotton industry billions of dollars.
While most bats are insectivorous, there are other species with different dietary preferences. For example, fruit bats primarily feed on fruit, nectar bats consume nectar, and some bats even specialise in feeding on small vertebrates or blood. However, the majority of bat species contribute to the regulation of insect populations, including flies, which can be a nuisance and carry diseases.
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Spiders, including jumping spiders and crab spiders
The Australian crab spider is a suburban or urban animal found in Eastern Australia, with a habitat among white and yellow daisies. Thomisus spectabilis is a venomous species, but its venom is not known to be medically significant. These spiders do not weave webs but rather chase and ambush their prey. They undergo a unique colour transformation from yellow to white, which helps them hide from predators and stalk prey in similarly coloured daisies. This transformation allows them to switch between being conspicuous and cryptic to their prey. The colourful bodies allow spiders to reflect UV light in a manner that attracts bees to their flower. When the spider changes to a specific colour, the colour is displayed uniformly across its head, legs, and abdomen. The female Australian crab spider is larger and stronger than the male and lies in flowers waiting to ambush and capture pollinators. The male spends most of its time searching for females to mate with and eats very little.
The Australian crab spider feeds mainly on insects, including live or recently killed crickets, drosophila flies, and pollinators such as honeybees and butterflies. They are an important form of pest control as they protect the flowers they inhabit from attack by insects. The energy obtained from consuming these insects allows the adult female Australian crab spider to produce a clutch of eggs.
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Fish, including betta fish, goldfish, trout, catfish, and bass
Fish, such as betta fish, goldfish, trout, catfish, and bass, are known to eat flies, although there is a concern about the potential harm caused by the flies' exposure to chemicals. Flies are a common food source for fish in the wild, and some people even feed their pet fish flies. However, it is important to ensure that the flies are free from any harmful substances that could be detrimental to the fish's health.
Betta fish, for instance, have been observed attacking house flies that accidentally fall into their tanks. While it is safe to feed flies to betta fish, it is not recommended to intentionally introduce flies into their tank due to the potential risk of contamination.
Trout are another fish species known to include flies as part of their diet. Anglers often use fly fishing techniques to catch trout, employing various fly patterns such as Klinkhammers, Sparkle Duns, or Comparadun patterns. The emerging nymphs and clumsy duns of certain fly species are particularly appealing to hungry trout.
Bass, on the other hand, are not picky eaters and will eat almost anything, including flies. In bass fishing, anglers use different types of flies, such as poppers, frog patterns, mice, and wooly buggers, to attract and catch these fish.
While flies can be a natural food source for freshwater fish, the same may not be true for saltwater fish. Saltwater fish might not recognize flies as food and may not know what to do with them. However, this does not mean that saltwater fish cannot eat flies, and some people have reported successfully feeding flies to their saltwater fish without any issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Flies form an important part of the food chain, providing nourishment for many different animals. Some of the main predators of flies include:
- Birds, including flycatchers, swallows, martins, swifts, chickens, and turkeys
- Bats
- Jumping spiders, crab spiders, and web-building spiders
- Frogs and toads
- Lizards, such as anoles, swifts, chameleons, and iguanas
- Fish, including trout, catfish, bass, betta fish, and goldfish
- Dogs and cats
There are about 30,000 species of flies in Australia, with some sources citing a range of over 250,000 species. However, only a tiny minority are considered pests or nuisances. The most common types of flies in Australia include:
- Bush flies
- House flies
- Blow flies
- Mosquitoes
- Biting midges
- Hover flies
- Stable flies
Different types of flies have different dietary preferences. For example, flesh flies eat dead and decaying flesh, while fruit flies feast on ripe, fermenting fruit and sugary liquids. House flies feed on liquid or semi-liquid organic substances, including nectar, fruit juices, milk, blood, manure, garbage, and animal feces. Some flies, like hover flies and blow flies, are important pollinators, feeding on nectar and helping with plant reproduction.
