Flies are a common insect frequently encountered in daily life. Although they do not suck blood or bite flesh, flies often land on people, causing discomfort. So, what is the reason behind this?
Human sweat contains many nutrients that flies prefer.
The reason flies like to land on people is that they can sense the body temperature of humans from up to 30 meters away. They are attracted to higher temperatures, which is why individuals with higher body temperatures, such as children, active people, or those suffering from fever, often become targets for flies.
When the human body sweats, there are various lubricants and trace elements in the sweat, which flies enjoy consuming from the human body. Human sweat is rich in nutrients that flies favor, such as amino acids, proteins, and sugars. Additionally, sweat has a distinctive odor that flies can recognize.
Moreover, flies have poor eyesight and rely on colors to identify objects. Some studies indicate that flies tend to be attracted to bright colors like red, orange, and yellow.
Furthermore, flies may also land on people to search for food. Flies consume a variety of food, including spoiled food, feces, leftover food, and more. If you have just eaten and have leftover food on your body, flies may land on you to eat.
To limit flies landing on you, you can take some measures such as keeping your body clean, wearing dark-colored clothing, covering food whenever there are leftovers, and using insect repellent.
