– how are flies so darn fast to react?!

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Just spent too many (unsuccessful) minutes hunting a fly in my kitchen. I tried to encourage it out the door but it clearly wants to stay.

It’s goading me and it’s bloody massive. Like bumblebee size.

I went at it with a magazine, kitchen roll and dishcloths but all were fruitless.

I read they perceive time differently so is it that they see me in slow motion? How does something operate in the world around them at a different ‘base speed’ if that is the case?

EDIT/UPDATE: thanks for all the comments. Some very cool and interesting things said that I’m going to follow up on. Not sure if it was the same one but a little while ago approached another behemoth of a fly with a white kitchen roll super slow and successful smushed it. Almost felt bad. Almost.

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26 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

They feel the air pressure, even if they can’t see it. (But also, they have wicked eyes so they see a lot and react a lot to movement). But it’s also why the paper towel trick works. They apparently can’t see “white” so if u approach slowly (so as to not disturb air pressure too much), you can pretty much grab a fly with a white paper towel.

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