Why Can Flies Walk on the Ceiling?
WouterThe answer to the question “Why can flies walk on the ceiling” is simple: their sticky feet and claws help them to cling to smooth surfaces. When a fly is walking, it can pick up three feet at a time and run along the ceiling. Flies have the right body structure for this and can complete the process very quickly.
Flies have two foot pads each, and these pads are covered in a natural glue called pulvilli. This adhesive is made of sugars and oils and is powerful enough to carry the bug’s body over obstacles. These pads also make them very stable on uneven surfaces.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute studied how flies walk on ceilings by observing the way that their feet slide across surfaces. The researchers found that the angle at which the foot pads contact the surface is crucial in controlling how the attachment forces are produced. Changing this angle can change the strength of the attachment. This discovery could help the development of robots that can mimic the way flies walk on ceilings.
Flying insects can climb up walls and walk on ceilings because they can fit into small gaps and holes. Insects can also grab onto bumps or lumps with their tiny hairs. This ability is facilitated by the van der Waals force, which occurs when molecules press close.
