Have you ever noticed tiny flies circling your fruits? You simply shush them away and enjoy your meal. But has it ever occurred to you that these lay eggs too? And if they fly and rest on your food, where else do they lay their eggs? Now that you know that your food might be a farm of such eggs you must be wondering, Is it fine to eat this food? What happens if you eat fruit fly eggs?
The tiny cotton-like flies flying around your food are called fruit flies. Although they stay throughout the year, they are more prevalent in summers. They usually feed on fruits, vegetables, and other foods and may also lay their eggs in them.
Fruit flies live and breed in your fruit baskets. These lay eggs and the eggs grow in a matter of few days. This fast growth and reproduction cycle grows our concern even more. We need to know, what happens if you eat fruit fly eggs? What happens if you eat fruit fly larvae? And what happens if you eat the fruit fly itself?
The Lifecycle
Fruit flies reproduce at astonishing rates. Their fast-paced growth has made them a formidable pest and researchers are more concerned about the health risks associated with them.
The total lifespan of a fruitfly is 40-50 days. Within its short life span, a female fruit fly can lay hundreds of eggs. Fruitfly lay eggs on moist surfaces, such as fermenting and overripe fruits.
The eggs hatch and turn into larvae within 24-30 hours. The larvae of a fruit fly are called maggots and these maggots live and feed on the fruit where the egg previously resided.
Within one week maggots start to dig and burrow into the fruit mass. To convert to a pupa, maggots find a dry place and the pupa turns into a fruitfly after a few days. Just two days into their adulthood fruit flies become sexually active and mate to reproduce. Female fruit flies mate with several males and store the sperms for future use.
What Happens If You Eat Fruit Fly Eggs?
Avoiding eating a fruit fly egg is almost impossible. To do so you will need to keep a constant eye on your fruit basket and throw away the fruit whenever you see a fruit fly flying over it. Fruit fly eggs are not easily seen with the naked eye.
If you ever ingest a fruit fly egg, you probably will never know about it and go on with your life. Fruit fly eggs are very small and are easily killed by your gastric juices. They possess no harm unless eaten in very large quantities. This can only happen if you deliberately shift from fresh fruit to rotten fruit, and I hope you have no plans to do so.
What Happens If You Eat A Maggot?
A maggot is the larvae of the fruit fly. You are likely to spot a maggot in your fruit and throw it away. But if it somehow escapes your vision and you ingest it, you need not panic. Considering what maggots usually feed on; rotting flesh or feces, they are likely to risk your health.
1. Bacterial Poisoning
Eating maggots can cause bacterial infections. Most fruit flies breed on decayed food, feces, and garbage. This makes it possible for maggots to become contaminated with salmonella and E-coli. The common symptoms of bacterial infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea. Severe cases can also cause bloody stools.
2. Myiasis
A myiasis is a form of infection that happens when maggots reside and feed on the living tissues of humans or animals. This usually happens in people with poor oral hygiene, as larvae settle in unhygienic areas of the mouth.
Although myiasis usually occurs under the skin it is suspected that it can occur in other organs and tissues as well. Maggots can live in the mouth, stomach, and intestine, causing serious tissue damage requiring medical attention.
The common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, and an upset stomach. You can easily spot the larvae in your mouth and remove them but if ingested, it can be dangerous.
3. Allergic reaction
Certain types of larvae can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Following the trend, maggots too can trigger an asthmatic or respiratory response. Some people also report contact dermatitis after eating maggots.
Some theories suggested that maggots themselves do not trigger an allergic response, but these maggots have been exposed to an allergen before and that is the real reason behind an allergic reaction in some people.
What Happens If You Eat The Fruit Fly?
Well, it is highly unlikely. Even if you are not very conscious about your food hygiene, you do get rid of all insects dead or alive in it. Fruit flies being very small in size can deceive your vision and can be ingested.
These carry bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, and listeria. These germs cause food poisoning. Severe cases may put you in the hospital and can even be life-threatening.
To Eat Or Not To Eat
You must be wondering that who would want to eat fruit flies deliberately. Well, people do. People eat maggots as a source of protein. But based on the current pieces of evidence and researches they shouldn’t. These can cause severe food poisoning and infection.
Those who are grossed about the idea of eating maggots should stick to their attitude. They should try and keep their fruits in a safe and clean place. Eating fruit before it ripes is the best way to avoid fruit flies and their eggs. Moreover, checking your food before eating it, can help a bundle too. Although accidentally ingesting a fruit fly won’t do much harm but it is always wise to be cautious.
FAQs
1. Can you see fruit fly eggs?
Fruit fly eggs are only 1/2 mm in length and are not visible to the naked eye. A simple way to detect fruit fly eggs is to look for fruit flies flying around.
2. What happens if you eat a worm in fruit?
Accidentally eating a worm won’t do much harm. But it can trigger an allergic reaction or cause a bacterial infection.
3. Where do fruit flies lay eggs?
Fruit flies lay eggs on the surfaces they fly on. Typically near the surfaces of moist or fermented food.
4. How to get rid of fruit flies?
Using insect and pest killing sprays can help a lot. You can control fruit flies by not leaving food uncovered and by maintaining a clean environment.
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