How high can a fly fly? (been asking this question for over 14yrs)?

Answer 1

Most insects can fly as long as they are in air that's about fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or warmer.

So, if air temperature at ground level is about seventy degrees, insects have about thirty-six hundred feet before they hit the ceiling, so to speak, and it's too cold.

On ninety-degree days, that border is at about six thousand feet.

Insects will seek out their ideal temperature for flying. If they reach a height where it's too cold for them to fly, they simply fold their wings in and drop until they reach a more comfortable cruising altitude.

Answer 2

Typically flies remain just above vegetation cover to avoid easier predation. However I have the following information taken from Insect Life and Natural History, S.W. Frost 1959. = 'Bumblebees have been seen around balloons at 35,000 ft'.

That being said like distribution accross land wind and air currents play a huge factor in the hieght a fly can go.

It might be worth checking out mass migrations of possibly the Monarch Butterfly or similiar to see if any research has been done in this area. Maybe NASA or a similiar agency could give you information on radar sightings in the same way as bird movement.

Another point worth considering is alpine insects such as those that live high up in high altitudes (i.e. Alps, etc). If a species of insect flies off to a new area from a habitat this high, is not the Highest flight of an insect.

If you have been asking this same question for 14 yrs (No I don't mean continously ;-)) perhaps you could try either asking more specific questions or web searches,
such as; Highest Altitude reached by insect, invertebrate fauna of Alpine environments then look at each species for records of flight behavior, migration of insects, records of insect migration routes, do mountains block the distribution of insects (If not how do insects get over onto these). Finally it might also be worth to kind out if insects hitch a ride on birds, but this would not be un-aided flight.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

You know why you have been asking this question for 14yrs and yet you got no answers?

That is because you are asking the wrong species of living things - humans. Talk fly (Bizzz..Bizz..Bizz..Bizz) and speak to a fly. Guarantine 14 secs the fly will give you the answer and tell you how high it ever flown!

Answer 4

Dear pj 222, to be honest with you i think a fly cannot go any higher than 25 feet,now this is just a stab in the darkbecause i really dont know. i hope i ve helped you ,and if someone does come up with the answer i would love to know what it is.Jan,

Answer 5

A fly can fly
As high as the sky -
But you and I?

Can't fly at all.

Answer 6

I don't know, but I caught one in the microwave once so I turned it on and he flew around like was on vacation in a sunny tropic area. Never hurt it

Answer 7

probably until it runs outta petrol. or until it reacehes the earths boundaries or gravity wins. or it sees some rotting food =p

Answer 8

around 11 meters high.

Answer 9

150 ft then it gets blown away with the wind and die