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Mouth parts of housefly is of
a) Sponging type
b) Sucking type
c) Siphoning type
d) Piercing type

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Last updated date: 17th Apr 2024
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Answer
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Hint: Sponging is a mode of nutrition, in which insect secrete saliva over the food and dissolved food is drawn up into the mouth in solution form.
Sucking is a mode of nutrition in which insects pierce food items to suck its internal fluid.
Siphoning is a mode of nutrition in which animals suck food from the substratum using siphon as a long hollow tube.
Piercing or scraping is a mode of nutrition in which insects scrape the food with their jaws.

Complete answer:
Housefly belongs to the suborder Cyclorrhapha. They are believed to have evolved in the Cenozoic Era, and spread all over the world as a commensal of humans. To answer this question we need to have knowledge about the structure and functions of different parts of the houseflies’ mouth.

> The mouthparts consist of the elbowed labium that has a fleshy look. At the tip of the labium, there are large sponge-like organs called labella.
> The hairs usually surround the mouthparts. This is often to retain moisture on the fly thus keeping water loss from the body at minimum level.
> The labella may be a very complex structure that contains many grooves referred to as pseudotrachea. This structure is extremely important because it sucks up liquids sort of like a sponge.
> Saliva is additionally released from the labella to assist dissolve and collect food particles. This can ease the food uptake by the pseudotrachea. If the food gets broken properly then it passes through a tube leading into the stomach, the fly sends this food down a different tube to an inner sack called the crop. It may pass the bubble of dissolving food multiple times between crop and mouth. The method of food uptake occurs through capillary actions and eventually, the liquefied meal moves down to the stomach.
> Once liquid food is drawn by the pseudotrachea, it'll have the food channel into the oesophagus.
Houseflies have lost their mandibles and maxillae for the biting and chewing process. The mouthparts are uniquely adjusted for a fluid eating routine; the mandibles and maxillae are decreased and not useful, and different mouthparts structure a retractable, adaptable proboscis with a developed, beefy tip, the labellum. This can be a wipe like structure that's portrayed by numerous furrows, called pseudo tracheae, which suck up liquids by slim action. It's additionally accustomed to appropriate spit to mellow strong nourishments or gather free particles.

Therefore, the answer is a sponging type!

Note: Houseflies play a critical ecological function in breaking down and recycling natural matter. Adults are mainly carnivorous; their number one meals is animal matter, carrion, and feces, however in addition they eat milk, sugary substances, and rotting fruit and vegetables. They may be opportunistic blood feeders also.