How are insects able to walk up walls and on the ceiling?

Answer 1

If you inspect the foot pads of a fly (using a powerful microscope), you will see many small hooks. Since the fly has so little weight, these tiny hooks are more than enough of attaching it to a wall or ceiling without falling.

Answer 2

When the fly is heading for the ceiling, it's flying right side up. When it lands on the ceiling it is upside down. At some point along the way it has to flip over. But when? And Where? And How?

Scientists dispelled the prevalent theory, that the fly performed a fighter pilot-like barrel roll just prior to landing, by capturing this momentous event on film.

Freeze frames, from the high-speed cameras scientists used, proved that flies do not flip, but flop, as they land upon the ceiling. Prior to impact, the fly extends its forward legs over its head, makes contact, and uses the momentum it has gathered in flight to hoist the remainder of its body to the ceiling. Thus, the fly proves to be more of an acrobat, than of a fighter pilot practicing his maneuvers.

Once the fly reunites all six feet on the ceiling, it keeps things dizzingly exciting, by gracefully tiptoing across the ceiling, securing itself by using sticky pads found under the two claws attached to each of its feet. It is because of these sticky pads and the hairs on the legs that the fly is such a carrier of disease germs.

Answer 3

A force we refer to as surface tension helps to hold their limb to the surface. It works at the molecular level, and so it has a limit as the weight of the creature increases becoming less and less effective.

whoops sorry I got thinking about something else - insects on a pond. apologies

Answer 4

Millions of tiny slightly barbed hairs on the surface of their bodies kind of act similar to the way velcro works.

Answer 5

I think they have little hairs on their legs that allow then to do that.