Is it true that flies only live 24 hours? This is the answer of IPB University Insect Expert

Flies are a type of insect from the order Diptera (derived from the word di meaning two and ptera meaning wings), including mosquitoes. Today, these insects include more than hundreds of species. 

A very striking difference with other insect orders is that flies only have one pair of wings that develop to fly, while the other pair of wings shrinks (reduces) which is called a halter.

Prof Tri Atmowidi, IPB University Insect Expert from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) explained, the process of development and growth or perfect metamorphosis (holometabola) of flies goes through four phases. These phases start from the egg phase, larva, pupa, to imago (adult fly). 

This process takes almost two weeks to hatch into adult flies. He said that the life span of adult flies can reach two to four weeks, even up to two months as in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster).

“I think that flies live only 24 hours is just a myth. Because, all growth requires time, including the growth process of flies,” he said when interviewed by the reporter of IPB Public Relations (19/2).

As for the mayfly, it is true that the adult life span can be less than 24 hours to several days. However, Prof Tri Atmowidi emphasized that the mayfly is an insect from the Ephemeroptera order which is different from flies. For this reason, he said, dragonflies cannot be classified as flies. 

When viewed from the imperfect metamorphosis process (hemimetabola), the mayfly undergoes three phases of development, namely eggs, nymphs, and adults. This process takes approximately one month

“In this adult phase (imago), the mayfly only has a life span of approximately 24 hours because after the reproduction process the adult mayfly will die,” he said. (AS) (IAAS/LAN)