Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Make it Lady on 25/06/2010 19:30:48

Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: Make it Lady on 25/06/2010 19:30:48
Planet Science are asking this question and no one has found the answer. So I thought I would challenge this forum with the same question and if anyone comes up with the answer I will credit this forum when I write to planet science.

How far can a fly, fly? Presumably before it gets tired and has to have a lie down!
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: neilep on 25/06/2010 20:22:53
As a firm believer in empirical study I have attached Fred to a tape measure. Fortunately it was the last 300 mile long tape measure in the store.

I'm just feeding him up on nice piece of sheepy poo and will report here when he completes his sortie.

yes, yes I am sure this is an acceptable way to get bona fide proof.


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Genuine photo Of Fred With tape Attachment...and no mistake.
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: Make it Lady on 25/06/2010 21:55:26
Neil, don't tape the measure to his leg because if you hold or attach something to a flies leg, it stops flying.

I've looked everywhere for the answer to this question, still no luck, and I know you are not a flyologist.
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: neilep on 26/06/2010 18:48:30
Neil, don't tape the measure to his leg because if you hold or attach something to a flies leg, it stops flying.

I've looked everywhere for the answer to this question, still no luck, and I know you are not a flyologist.

Ewe're right of course Shazza...I've spent all day trying to coax him to fly and it ain't working !! *le sulk*...Perhaps I should not have swatted Fred !..it was the only way to catch him !!...since then I figured he's just been asleep !!

lets hope a passing 'flyologist' buzzes in with an answer !!
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: Geezer on 26/06/2010 19:18:01
It's really quite simple MIL.

However, in order to provide a resonable estimate, we'll need some more data.

Please provide the following;

1. What is the mass of your fly?
2. What are his approximate dimensions (displced volume might be enough)?
3. How high does your fly fly?
4. How fast does your fly fly.
5. What fuel does your fly consume?
6. How much fuel does your fly contain?
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: MayoFlyFarmer on 29/06/2010 19:31:58
did somebody call for a flyologist???
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: neilep on 29/06/2010 20:26:05
did somebody call for a flyologist???

The Flyologist iz in da house !!


respek !!

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Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: Karen W. on 30/06/2010 05:13:30
YAYYYYYYYY!!!
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: Make it Lady on 01/07/2010 20:50:15
Come on then fly boy. Give us the fly answer.
Geezer, I think you should go with averages for your calculation. I guess you'll need to messure a large number of flies to get a good average. Let me know when you have done that. No peaking on Wiki for these figures.
I feel we may fail in our quest for fly knowledge. I now have an infected horse fly bite because I didn't get far enough away from it.
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: Mazurka on 05/07/2010 17:55:28
According to an unreferenced comment in a report prepared by the ADAS consultancy, in extreme cases the common housefly can travel 20km.  However, nuisance from flies from a source (such as a landfill site) is rarely reported more than 2km away.  Common house flies are not all that affected by wind, as they tend to move closer to the ground when it is windy.

Of course given that that are over 6500 species of fly in Britain, how far an individual species travels is likely to be highly variable.   
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: RD on 05/07/2010 19:52:39
Allegedly spiders can fly 200 miles (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9536-how-do-spiders-travel-such-145epic-distances.html), wind assisted.
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: Make it Lady on 08/07/2010 22:21:22
That's all we need, spiders with wind!
Title: ?How far can a fly, fly?
Post by: Make it Lady on 08/07/2010 22:22:29
Thanks Mazurka, now I know to move at least 2km away from a horse fly. I have finished the anti-biotics for the bite and now have a stomach bug and trush from taking the drugs. I think next time I'll stick with the infected bite.