The Wild & Creepy Tenants - The Randy Academic & The Fashion Connoisseur
This is the last episode from the series about our little and creepy tenants.
These tiny housemates are born, live, and then die in our basements, attics, garages, and even bathrooms. Each day, they do their best trying not to stick out, while our house has become their true kingdom, and it appears that they are not intending to move out voluntarily.
The Randy Academic
Although it is very irritating when our bowl of fruits is surrounded by swarms of midges, these frustrating pests can be our saviours - they are the only flies that deserve an academic degree. The Common Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is an example of the model organism that has been used in genetic research.
Their genome has been counted to carry over 15,500 genes, and round 60% of them have their counterparts in human genes. Also, over 75% of disease-related genes in humans have their equivalent in fruit fly's genome! So it shouldn't be surprising that we owe these little insects few great breakthroughs in cancer research.
They are also incredibly economical - only few fruits (ideally, the rotten ones) are needed for their breeding. Under favourable conditions, one adult female fruit fly can lay up to 400 eggs within 7 days. There are more than 1500 species of Drosophila, and just in Hawaii live over 800 species of this genus.
The Fashion Connoisseur
The true expansion of The Common Clothes Moth or clothing moth (Tineola bisselliella) happened after the introduction of the masonry heaters, and later - the central heating.
Their larvae have specific dietary requirements - they like to feed on human clothing, and specifically keratin contained in fur, feathers, wool and silk. This protein is indigestible for most of animals but it is their basic nourishment. Thanks to it, they are able to turn into moth butterfly.
Sometimes, hungry larvae also attempt to consume synthetic fabrics or food leftovers. The clothing moths use their antennae to sense scents, temperature, touch, and to taste. In their adult form they represent no threat to our garment. Their mouth parts are degenerated, so they need to make use of the reserve that they had accumulated as larvae.
-logic
If you have enjoyed my article, please check up the previous episodes from this series:
"The Wild & Creepy Tenants - The Long-Legged Slyboots & The Silver Gourmand".
"The Wild & Creepy Tenants - The Master of Survival & The Unstable Aviator".
"The Wild & Creepy Tenants - The Biting Strongman & The Little Technician [Every Day Is Halloween]".
Love it and both the fruit fly and moth are fascinating upvoted, good job please continue.
They are as fascinating as annoying! :-)
Thank you for the vote :-)
Picture #2 looks like a king :)
You have quite an imagination :-)
An imagination that should not be underestimated ;)
I could do without the clothes moth. The fruit fly that I don't like is the Spotted Wing Drisophila. It started spreading around the world in the 2000/2010s and drastically changes the situation for growing fruit like cherries. It's a mess. Instead of waiting to get fruit that is over-ripe, the spotted wing goes at fruit when it has changed color. And the female has a saw-butt to slice into a fruit and lay eggs that rot the fruit. It's a mess! I did some cussing this summer. But I'll figure out a strategy this winter.... >:O
Little fuckers! :-)
they are really creepy!!
Wooooo! :-)