How Blowflies Evolved to Become Parasites

Blowflies are fascinating creatures. They have a unique way of living that has changed over time. This change is called evolution. Scientists wanted to understand how blowflies became parasites. Parasites are organisms that live on or inside other organisms, called hosts. They get food and shelter from their hosts. The scientists focused on a specific type of parasitism called myiasis. In myiasis, blowfly larvae, or maggots, live on or inside a vertebrate, which is an animal with a backbone. This could be a human, a bird, or any other animal. To figure out how this happened, the scientists looked at different traits of blowflies. They considered things like what the larvae eat, where they live, and the temperature they need to grow. They also looked at how these traits changed over time. The scientists found that blowflies started out as scavengers. They ate dead animals and rotting flesh. This is called saprophagy. Over time, some blowflies started to live on living hosts. This is called facultative parasitism. They would lay their eggs on or in wounds, where the larvae could feed on the dead tissue. The scientists also found that facultative parasitism was a big step towards becoming obligate parasites. Obligate parasites can only live as parasites. They can't survive without a host. This means that facultative parasitism was like a bridge. It helped blowflies move from being scavengers to being parasites. This is important because it shows how complex the evolutionary history of blowflies is. It also shows that facultative parasitism is a key step in this process. It's like a stepping stone that helps blowflies become obligate parasites. The scientists used a lot of data and complex models to figure this out. They looked at the evolutionary tree of blowflies. This is like a family tree, but for species. It shows how different species are related to each other. The scientists also found that blowflies can live in different temperatures. Some need a constant temperature, while others can handle changes. This is another important trait that helped blowflies become parasites. The scientists' findings are important for understanding how parasites evolve. It also helps us understand how blowflies became the parasites they are today. This knowledge can be used to control blowfly populations and prevent myiasis in humans and animals.