What Does a Fly Weigh?
WouterThe weight of a fly is about fifty milligrams (mg) – that’s fifty millionths of a kilogram! To make this figure more interesting, consider this: a housefly has about a quarter-square-inch of gripping surface. To put that in perspective, an average adult woman has about 17.2 square feet, which means that there are approximately 39,680 flies on her body at one time.
A fly is capable of climbing almost any surface, thanks to its tiny hairs and claws. The feet are covered with pulvilli, which produce a sticky substance that enables flies to scale surfaces. Flies also have the ability to see in a nearly 360-degree surround. Their compound eyes are located on the front of their bodies, and they can detect movement from almost every direction.
Fly line weight is an important component of a fly fishing rod. It’s important to match your fly line weight to the size of the fish you’re trying to catch. A line that weighs seven grains is a good choice for small to medium-sized trout, but a line weight of eight grams is recommended for larger fish, like salmon and steelhead. And a line weight of eight grams is best for large-sized, powerful fish.
If you’re interested in reducing the amount of energy that a fly consumes, you can study its energy metabolism. It has been estimated that a single fly has the power to produce about 40 percent more energy than a car engine at forty miles per hour. And because of its efficiency, harnessing the power of flying insects could be a future solution to car travel.
