Insect "stickability"
Discussion
Well I couldn't think of the right word for it, so I made one up.
We get lots of insects round here as the office is close to a lake, and they often sit on my windscreen. This has given rise to a new competition, how fast can the bug hold on?
Today I achieved a new personal best, 82MPH for a common fly! It is quite fascinating watching them decide whether to hold on for dear life or to go for it. Some figure it out and get off when I slow down, but today's kamikazi pilot just went for it big style.
Now I have no idea of the aerodynamic capabilities of a fly's wings, but I would have imagined he encountered a fair degree of instability in the initial flight :hehe:
Of course I then started thinking about how this causes a micro change in the ecosystem as the fly was displaced by about two miles..... :scratchchin: [small]The fly could have been disease carrying and pass it onto a different person than the person it would otherwise have infected.... The ramifications are endless! Over to you quantum boys :)[/small]
I really should pay more attention to the traffic!
We get lots of insects round here as the office is close to a lake, and they often sit on my windscreen. This has given rise to a new competition, how fast can the bug hold on?
Today I achieved a new personal best, 82MPH for a common fly! It is quite fascinating watching them decide whether to hold on for dear life or to go for it. Some figure it out and get off when I slow down, but today's kamikazi pilot just went for it big style.
Now I have no idea of the aerodynamic capabilities of a fly's wings, but I would have imagined he encountered a fair degree of instability in the initial flight :hehe:
Of course I then started thinking about how this causes a micro change in the ecosystem as the fly was displaced by about two miles..... :scratchchin: [small]The fly could have been disease carrying and pass it onto a different person than the person it would otherwise have infected.... The ramifications are endless! Over to you quantum boys :)[/small]
I really should pay more attention to the traffic!
A little early to be drinking, mate? 
I wonder what the range of a fly is. I gave the gerbils a digital counter wheel a few years back (didnt want them feeling they'd been left in the stone age) and was amazed to see that they ran bloody miles every night. Perhaps on occasions, the length of a small city.
I wonder what the range of a fly is. I gave the gerbils a digital counter wheel a few years back (didnt want them feeling they'd been left in the stone age) and was amazed to see that they ran bloody miles every night. Perhaps on occasions, the length of a small city.
I quote someone clever...
Houseflies usually stay near their breeding places but records show they can travel up to 28 miles carried by wind currents. These flies can move 4-6 miles within 24 hours. Flies prefer to rest on corners and edges of thin objects such as wire and strings. At night they usually rest near their food sources, 5-15 ft. off the ground.
So there you go Bob. How far does a fly fly? Quite far!
>> Edited by titiany on Tuesday 5th July 13:15
Houseflies usually stay near their breeding places but records show they can travel up to 28 miles carried by wind currents. These flies can move 4-6 miles within 24 hours. Flies prefer to rest on corners and edges of thin objects such as wire and strings. At night they usually rest near their food sources, 5-15 ft. off the ground.
So there you go Bob. How far does a fly fly? Quite far!
>> Edited by titiany on Tuesday 5th July 13:15
- I was trying to remember who I sounded like when I posted that. UKBob said:
A little early to be drinking, mate?
I wonder what the range of a fly is. I gave the gerbils a digital counter wheel a few years back (didnt want them feeling they'd been left in the stone age) and was amazed to see that they ran bloody miles every night. Perhaps on occasions, the length of a small city.
What was the average over a 7 day period ?
UKBob said:
A little early to be drinking, mate?
I wonder what the range of a fly is. I gave the gerbils a digital counter wheel a few years back (didnt want them feeling they'd been left in the stone age) and was amazed to see that they ran bloody miles every night. Perhaps on occasions, the length of a small city.
Why are they all so fat, then ?
It just goes to show that exercise is pointless.
for lazy gits like me.
scared but happy said:I cant remember how many miles they ran per night because the wheel was only compatible with a cage we chucked out 4 years ago but it was in the reigon of... 2-5, I think. By size, that would be 500 man-miles on foot.
A little early to be drinking, mate?
I wonder what the range of a fly is. I gave the gerbils a digital counter wheel a few years back (didnt want them feeling they'd been left in the stone age) and was amazed to see that they ran bloody miles every night. Perhaps on occasions, the length of a small city.
What was the average over a 7 day period ?
The younger wipper-snapper gerbils tend to run more than adults though, unless they are being chased under which circumstances they all run about the same.
dilbert said:
The only thing I know about flies is that after about 120mph they turn to superglue on impact.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Yes... had to powerspray the front of my newly-painted car to get a few dozen of them off after a 700-mile trip
Had to get parts of the front repainted.
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