How Do Flies Take Off and Land?
WouterScientists at CNRS have been studying the process of how flies take off and land. They discovered that the insects flip themselves around before their head even touches the ground. This is an incredibly quick reaction time, especially when they are flying at speeds of up to 10,000 degrees per second. They have also shown that their heads turn around just 0.016 seconds later than their bodies.
Scientists have observed this behavior in insects including ants and flies. Phorid flies have been observed to decapitate ants. The larvae of these flies live inside the ant’s head and feed on the ant’s brain and goo. As they feed, the head of the ant falls off and the flies then lay their eggs nearby.
In another instance, a fly that has been decapitated will use its legs to move its head around. This video was posted on Twitter by the Nature is Scary page. The cockroach, on the other hand, will survive for up to a week without its head.
The common fly is an extremely common insect, with populations in all inhabited continents and climates. Their food source is animal feces, but they’ve also adapted to feed on garbage. If you’re trying to control a fly infestation, consider using fly control products, which can be purchased at most hardware stores. These products contain ingredients such as pyrethrin or pyrethroid that provide a quick knockdown effect. The products should be applied according to the directions on the label.
