What does a fly do when it lands on your food?

A fly typically performs the following actions when it lands on your food:

1. Landing: The fly uses its wings to land on the surface of your food.

2. Proboscis Extension: The fly extends its proboscis, which is a long, tubular mouthpart, to probe the food.

3. Gustatory Sensing: The fly uses the tip of its proboscis to taste the food and assess its palatability.

4. Regurgitation: The fly may regurgitate a small amount of digestive fluid onto the food to help dissolve and liquefy it. Some flies may also vomit on your food.

5. Feeding: The fly uses its proboscis to suck up the liquefied food.

6. Repeat: The fly may repeat the process of probing, regurgitating, and feeding until it is satisfied or disturbed.

7. Defecation: Flies often leave behind small droplets of excrement, which can contaminate the food.

It's important to note that flies can carry various bacteria and pathogens on their bodies and in their digestive systems. Therefore, it's generally recommended to discard any food that has been touched or landed on by a fly to avoid potential contamination and foodborne illnesses.