The Facts
According to a study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society Journal Wednesday, biting flies are attracted to blue objects because they resemble animal hosts.
Conducted by the Department of Life Sciences at the UK’s Aberystwyth University, the study intended to examine why biting flies are attracted to the color blue, which has led to the development of traps in that particular hue.
The Spin
Narrative A
Flies may seem like innocuous minuscule pests, but they can be extremely dangerous, carrying hundreds of kinds of bacteria. Flies have caused immense amounts of suffering worldwide, infecting humans and animals with life-threatening illnesses, including COVID. Studies such as this are crucial in keeping people safe.
Narrative B
While certain flies can pose a threat to society by spreading diseases to humans and animals, most are relatively harmless and the rate at which they spread disease is dependent on the environment they're in. Urban areas increase the rate of pathogens flies spread, so urbanites should take simple steps to reduce risk. Flies are fascinating creatures that are useful to the wider ecosystem.