Do flys or insects sleep, and do they close their eyelids – if they have any?
Although insects do not seem to sleep in the same way as humans do, they do have periods of quiet, where they appear to be taking a break or at the very least, relaxing. The insect does not relax to such a point that it loses consciousness as it needs to keep somewhat alert in order to thwart attacks by predators and to survive. These periods of rest can occur during the day or night and are known as quiescent periods. Insects do not close their eyes during quiescent periods. They can not close their eyes like we do as they do not have eyelids. In addition to these daily ‘naps’, insects have an annual deep sleep, which is a form of hibernation. This form of hibernation is known as a diapause.
