Who does not love a bowl of freshly cut fruits on a summer afternoon?
But the moment you leave that bowl unattended it will attract a whole lot of flies. Fruit flies are everywhere and lay eggs on everything.
So it is okay to stay curious about what happens if you eat fruit fly eggs?
One can ponder are fruit flies dangerous for plants, animals, babies, food, and bird. And the bigger question is fruit fly larvae harmful to eat?
Thus in order to avoid these flies and their larvae, it is necessary to learn about the end results of eating these fruit fly eggs so that you can do a better job at eliminating them.
Table of Contents
What are Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies are two-winged small insects that are known to circle around fruits. They will then lay eggs in the fruits and make them unfit for humans to consume. They are present around the year but summers are the high time for their prevalence.
Fruit flies normally feed on fruits but they also munch on vegetables and other foods. Whatever they feed on they also tend to lay eggs there. In addition to all this, their reproductive cycle is also rapid.
That is why it becomes more apparent that you learn what happens if you eat fruit fly eggs.
What is the Lifecycle of Fruit Flies?
According to the research of the national library of Medicine, fruit flies tend to reproduce at an astonishing rate. This has been a headscratcher for researchers all around the world. As they keep on digging into the health concerns associated with fruit flies.
If we are to talk about the lifespan of a fruitfly it lies between 40 to 50 days. A female fruit fly can lay hundreds of eggs in this small timespan. A moist and humid surface is often the ideal location for a fruit fly to lay its eggs.
Successful hatching of eggs converts them into larvae within 24 to 30 years. The larvae of a fruit fly are known as maggots. The maggot then residue in the fruit where the fruit fly has previously laid its eggs.
The maggots then keep on feeding the fruit mass to grow and then get converted into a pupa. In order for a successful transformation, the maggots find a dry place. Just after two days of their successful transmission into adulthood. The minute they became an adult they start to mating.
The females tend to mate with several males and then store the sperm for future use.
What Happens if You Eat Maggots?
Remember the little insects that crawl inside a rotten fruit? Yes, they are maggots. Maggots are larvae of the fruit flies that are easy to spot. They are often the carriers of bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli.
It is possible for you to spot a maggot in your fruit and then throw it away. But it is also possible for you to consume it without looking. Maggots tend to feed on rotting flesh as well as feces. Thus eating them is associated with a high risk of health complications.
Given below are some common health complications that are associated with eating maggots.
Bacterial Poisoning
Maggots feed on rotting flesh and thus are often the carriers of bacteria. Prof. Dr. Fatima Mehboob, a renowned Gastroenterologist with 44 years of experience, says when you unconsciously feed on this maggot-infested fruit you are at a high risk of bacterial poisoning. Some common symptoms of bacterial poisoning are as follows:
Myiasis
A person can have myiasis when the maggots are feeding on the living tissues of humans and animals. People who have poor dental or oral hygiene are often the victim of this. Therefore make sure to floss every now and then. This is mainly because larvae tend to settle in the unhygienic areas of the mouth.
Myiasis mostly occurs under the epidermal layer of the skin. But it can also have deteriorating effects on the organs and tissues as well. Maggots survive in humid areas thus making a home in your mouth, stomach as well as intestines leading to severe tissue damage in those areas.
People can suffer from the following symptoms
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
- Loss of appetite
Allergic Reactions
Wondering can fruit flies make you sick? It is not the fly that is dangerous, it is their larvae. Consuming these larvae can trigger severe allergic reactions in some people.
If you have ingested maggots without looking it can lead to asthma or some other sort of respiratory response. Eating maggots also leads to contact dermatitis.
How to Prevent Fruit Flies Infestation?
Not comfortable with all the fruit flies circling your food, you can use the given preventive measures to get rid of them.
Buy What You Are Sure You Will Eat
Remember to keep track of what you want to eat and do not buy food products in bulk. Because a rotten berry or apple can invite a whole lot of fruit flies inside your fridge or house.
Clean the Spills
Make sure to clean any spills because these spills can attract fruit flies. Pay attention to cleaning.
Turn Off the Lights
Light acts as a magnet for fruit flies. Therefore make sure to turn all the lights off.
Wash Your Produce
Whenever you come home with groceries, never put them in the fridge as it is. Always wash so that bacteria are not making room inside your fridge.
A Note from Healthwire!
Now it is common for your to wonder whether you should eat them or not. In some corners of the world, people do eat them deliberately. Insects in some parts of the world are considered to be prime sources of protein.
But if you don’t want to eat them you don’t have to. If you have ingested them by mistake you can consult with gastroenterologists via Healthwire.
In the meantime, stay happy and stay healthy!
FAQ’s
Are Fruit Fly Larvae Harmful to Eat?
Yes, fruit fly larvae are harmful to eat as they lead to bacterial poisoning and allergic reactions.
What do Fruit Fly Eggs look like?
Fruit fly eggs often look like rice grains. They are visible under a microscope and are ½ mm in length.
Can Fly Eggs Hatch in Your Stomach?
Yes, they can hatch in the stomach leading to a complex medical condition also known as intestinal myiasis.
Will Heating Food Kill Fly Eggs?
Yes, heating foods kills the fruit fly eggs that are present in the fruit. But you cannot heat up fruits, thus it is better to cut off the rotten part.
