Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Fly bubble blowing

Posted by amandafujikawa on 10-04-2012 17:26
#155

I think it is a form of digestion in the form of evaporation, similar to what mosquitoes do after a blood meal. They can only hold so much water before they are too heavy to fly and their osmotic balance is upset. So they bubble to reduce water and concentrate whatever meal they just had. I watched Calliphorids do it a bunch during my MS. In that case, they were feeding on blood and digesting for protein. So they would bubble until the protein/water ratio was 'right' and then they would finish digesting. Fascinating behavior, in any case!

Edited by amandafujikawa on 10-04-2012 17:28