Why do houseflies always fly in circles around the lamp on the ceiling in the living room? Even when the lamp isn't switched on and - as far as I know - houseflies aren't attracted to light anyway.
2006-10-20 05:19:46 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
For the love of God, please read the rest of the question besides the title for once.
2006-10-20 05:30:28 · update #1
Firstly, it isn't all flies that do this. Some flies will tend to sit on surfaces and wait, unless hassled or going to seek food or the like. The species that fly round and round endlessly are simply types of fly that don't like to be still. They're always moving around somewhere. The middle of the room is a nice open space for flying in and most rooms happen to have their lights in the middle, giving them something to fly around. In other words, the fly doesn't care that it is a turned-off light. It just happens to be in the open space they're flying around in.
A common type that likes to fly constantly are little house flies (Fannia spp).
There are some obvious advantages to a fly to keep in flight. Many of them don't live very long, and they need to find food and mates in that time.
There aren't many links I can offer for this, but the one below explains some of the different behaviours for different fly types:
http://cipm.ncsu.edu/ent/Southern_Region/RIPM/CHAP6/flies.htm
2006-10-20 11:47:16 · answer #1 · answered by Polenth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they didn't fly in circles they wouldn't be able to stay by the lamp, they would just fly off in a straight line and hit the wall.
or, they could smell the other dead insects around the lamp and are looking for food, or they could smell odors from above the ceiling if the lamp is attached to the ceiling.
2006-10-20 05:30:30 · answer #2 · answered by Grant d 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flies do not "see." they are insects. insects have eyes that are a diverse detector than human eyes. the reason being instinct. maximum flying insects in an enclosed area have a outfitted in charm to hotter elements. Their antennae stumble upon very smaller ameliorations in temperature than large(r) animals, and round a ceiling basic is hotter than different places severe in the room. seem for a fly swatter at a shop, purchase one, and get rid of flies, rather of staring at them. The analyze on flies had each and every of the archives you would opt to carry close tens of years in the past.
2016-12-05 01:10:52 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like many insects, house flies orient by the natural light of the sun and moon. Imagine the power to disorient the fly that is an electric bulb.
2006-10-20 13:18:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It might be because
The entire life of a house fly is spent within a few hundred feet of the area where it was born.
2006-10-20 08:29:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they like light
2006-10-20 05:28:37 · answer #6 · answered by bear 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋