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You’ve probably chased a fly or two around the house this summer. And, chances are, it took a few swings before you brought down the buzzing nuisance. Now a study in the August 28th issue of the journal Current Biology has uncovered just what makes a fly so hard to swat.
Michael Dickinson from the California Institute of Technology used high-speed digital video to record the evasive maneuvers of fruit flies. In the slow-mo instant replay, the flies’ bodies react to a swatter well before their wings carry them to safety. Blessed with nearly 360 degree vision, the fly first gauges the position of the swatter, then prepares an escape within 200 milliseconds. When approached from the front, for example, a fly shifts its middle legs forward and leans back. If you sneak in from the side, the fly leans in the opposite direction. This positioning then lets the fly spring into a flight pattern that takes it out of the danger zone. So, if you want to get a fly on the first try, Dickinson says to aim at where you think it’s going, not where it is. Or you could always call in a SWAT team.
—Adam Hinterthuer
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22 Comments
Add CommentBut why when the fly seems to stay stationary,it is still hard to swart it successfully?Is it related to the fly's sort of sensation system response or something else?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI distract the fly with my left hand by gently fluttering my fingers and swat it with the swatter in my right hand. Works every time.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI developed this method of killing nuisance flys based on my assumption that compoud eyes gain panoramic vision at the expense of depth perception. I start with any kind of rod that comes to hand (ideally of similar diameter to a pencil but a bit longer) and point it at the fly with the end perhaps 12 inches away, then move it towards the fly trying to keep any sideways wobbles to a minimum and keeping it aimed at the (stationary) fly. Surprisingly often the fly can be squished with the end of the rod without having to move it at any great speed, as all it sees is a cirular object that's gradually getting bigger rather than making any fast movements across its field of vision.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGOD KILLS A LOLCATS
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisi find dat takin a gun an blowin da friken critter to bits is quite effective too
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTry this: slowly position your your hands approx 6" apart and 5-6" above a fly (on a wall or table). Quickly clap your hands; 8 out of 10 times the fly will fly into your clap and be squished. Kind of gross, but works if you don't have a swating device around.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRaid. Works every time.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI solved that problem long ago: I use a butane lighter and a can of bug spray: Spray a short burst into the lghter flame in the general direction of the fly, and the burst of flame will singe its wings, rendering it unable to fly... or cremate it if it hits it full force!! Fun, very dangerous, works well, and extremely satisfying!!!! Even works in flight!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisActually, I strongly recommend you do not really try this, because the can could conceivably explode in your hand - For trained MythBusters ONLY, outdoors, with stunt gear on.
I solved that problem long ago: I use a butane lighter and a can of bug spray: Spray a short burst into the lghter flame in the general direction of the fly, and the burst of flame will singe its wings, rendering it unable to fly... or cremate it if it hits it full force!! Fun, very dangerous, works well, and extremely satisfying!!!! Even works in flight!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisActually, I strongly recommend you do not really try this, because the can could conceivably explode in your hand - For trained MythBusters ONLY, outdoors, with stunt gear on.
I just killed a fly on the wall of my cubicle.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWith a rubber band :)
I don't really try to kill, I just open a window and drive them out.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhen one fly is annoying, I flap my open hand a little above the insect capturing it in my hand in this moment already closed penning the fly. The hunting is completed. I hear with satisfaction the murmuring inside my hand. Now, I hurl the fly against a wall or a floor, without mercy. The result is the death of the creature but if it is only maiming one light stamp, smashing its exoskeleton, stop its agony. Then I kick it to a corner and wash my hunting hand. My superior shrewdness of a mammalian hunter was prevalent over the insignificant beast. My soul is triumphant!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNot that many of you really have sophisticated scientific minds, but if you could appreciate the amazing complexity of just the fly's vision or it's ability to fly (much better than us eh...) then when does the awareness of this creature's wonderful display of God's creation come to you. Where is you're awareness of the animal's right to live. Is there truly joy in the killing for you when this animal is trying to fly away to save it's life using all that God gave it to escape? This is so common for people to behave in this ignorant manner towards nature (God), of which we all inseparable.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo accidentally kill a bug while walking is one thing (totally unintentional). To kill and then be happy about it is the lowest kind of Karma you could create. For all you Bible Thumping- Fly Swatters, do you interpret the 10 commandments to allow killing - if it suites you? Does it say "Thou shall not kill humans"? Life is to be revered. We are to evolve. ALL OF US.
See how if feels to just watch the fly or the humble ant go about its way. Learn from their amazing ways and be happy. I promise you that you will notice a feeling of connectedness and lightness from your new vibratory level of being.
If the sophisticated scientific minds could appreciate the amazing complexity of the fly's vision or it's ability to fly much less process the environment around it; then when does the awareness of this creature's wonderful display of God's creation come to you. Where is your awareness of the animal's right to live. Is there truly joy in the killing for you when this animal is trying to fly away to save it's life using all that God gave it to escape? This is so common for people to behave in this ignorant manner towards nature (God), of which we all inseparable.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo accidentally kill a bug while walking is one thing (totally unintentional). To kill and then be happy about it is the lowest kind of Karma you could create. For all you Bible Thumping- Fly Swatters, do you interpret the 10 commandments to allow killing - if it suites you? Does it say "Thou shall not kill humans only"? Life is to be revered. We are to evolve. ALL OF US.
See how if feels to just watch the fly or the humble ant go about its way. Learn from their amazing ways and be happy. I promise you that you will notice a feeling of connectedness and lightness from your new level of being an "allower" PEACE!
At the risk of sounding evil, ants bite me, I kill them. Flies carry disease, I kill them. They are pests and plagues.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have found that flies also cannot tell the difference between a mirror (or any other reflective surface) and open space. You can actually slowly cover a fly up with a sheet of tin foil and they usually dont' move unless they sense the movement of the air.
They also tend to fly forward so they are easier to catch if you swipe your hand over them about 4-6 inches from the surface they're on. They'll fly right into your hand. If like Messinger you don't want to kill the fly, this doesn't usually kill it as you have to close your hand very tightly to crush such a small insect, leaving you free to release it outside.
It is very fascinating that such a small creature out be so preimptive about its escape plan. But I guess if you're an insect, it pays to be paranoid. Especially when it lives in a world full of predators and fly swatters.
I kill flies with my bare hands all the time, no tricks. I'm just really fast.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA fly or two? How about a fly or a thousand - something? This has got to be the worst invasion of flies I've ever seen. It's driving me mad. And yes, they are sneaky little buggers. I love the electric tennis rackets that zap the tenacious winged enemies, it's fun and makes a nice ZZZZZIT! noise when you actually do hit a fly with it! HA HA HA! (mad for flies)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisoh yea, our puppy Chihuahua catches our flies quite often and chews them up and swallows them. Makes for fun conversation at dinnertime, yessiree!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisnow THAT is totally amazing. my flies must have been trained in tactical maneuvers to avoid this method of destruction of their species because as hard as I tried I could not kill one of those sneaky little annoyances the way you described. =(
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI do not believe that flies have souls and therefore there is nothing wrong with killing the obtrusive little f*cks. Humans have souls. I do not believe in taking the life of a human. If I am hunting it is for a good reason. To eat, to find shelter or fur to make outerwear for warmth, or because whatever it is I am hunting is extremely annoying and is overpopulating my space. It is a natural instinct of man and animal, is it not, to protect their own and their home?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHairspray (aerosol or nonaerosol) can effectively incapacitate one or more flies simultaneously by immobilizing their wings. Once hit with the sticky substance, the law of gravity brings them down to the ground where they can be easily captured or killed. But be careful of the direction in which you spray it to avoid collateral damage: To avoid harming people, don't spray it toward another person or into a wind or breeze that's blowing in your face or another person's face; otherwise, you (or another person) will likely get hit with the stickey stuff too and no one wants to have their eyelids accidentally glued shut (safety goggles should be part of your protective battle armour). Also, be prepared to wipe clean the sticky stuff from any surfaces (e.g., ceilings, walls, floors, countertops, appliances, furniture) that might also get hit by the sticky stuff. In sum, the laws of physics can effectively defeat a fly's biological defense mechanisms, but caution is advised before bringing those laws into play as part of your arsenal against the pests.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisevidently the old kind of fly swatter did not work good enough so invent a better design of fly swatter call Fly swatter pro. Now it's not so hard to swat fly 100% percent better design visit www.sidinnovations.com you can see picture and video or even order to try one for yourself
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