What if all the world's houseflies were eradicated?

Factual Questions
1

I think we’ve already talked about what if all the world’s disease-carrying mosquitoes (and only those species) were eradicated. One of the ecological disasters that might precipitate could be the burgeoning of the human population, especially in regions that could least support that.

Okay, now: What about the common housefly? Do they have any ecological value? If we eradicated every last one of them, what would happen? Would the sky fall on our heads?

(Someone tell me if we’ve done this already.)

2

My WAG is you would be eliminating a major food source for something that does play an important role in our ecosystem.

Still though, it’s nice to daydream. :slight_smile:

3

Their ecological niche would be filled by other species, which may or may not be more obnoxious and irritating than houseflies.

4

Houseflys carry diseases. There are a lot of similar insects that probably would end up replacing them and carrying the same diseases. I think the housefly has developed some resistance to common pesticides, so other species may be a little easier to control.

5

Beelzebub would wreak horrible revenge on humanity.

6

God in His wisdom created the fly,
And then forgot to tell us why.

7

↑↑↑ This

8

Kneedeep in shit?

9

They consume waste. No garbage collectors, things can get pretty bad.

10

Nobody worries about the frogs?

11

Was this a concern when eradicating smallpox? :dubious: