[Tomster (OP)]

Tom asked the Naked Scientists:

Hi
I work on the 12th floor in an office block and have noticed on occasions the odd fly buzzing around and wondered if it flew up in through a window.

My question is how high can a fly fly?

Thanks

What do you think?

[blakestyger]

I don't know about flies but people catching air-borne spiders in nets suspended from balloons have had them from over 5 miles high.

[JnA]

It depends on the weather. Insects like to fly within a certain temperature range. If they go too high and it gets too cold, they drop until it becomes more comfortable.

[SquarishTriangle]

As high high as a fly could fly if a high fly could fly high?

[Don_1]

I suppose a 'Fly' is called a 'Fly' because it can fly, but if a 'Fly' had no wings, it wouldn't be able to fly so would it be called a 'Walk'?

[JnA]

I suppose a 'Fly' is called a 'Fly' because it can fly, but if a 'Fly' had no wings, it wouldn't be able to fly so would it be called a 'Walk'?

"Flies like to fly because they don't like to stay"



That's going to bug me all night.

[Tomster (OP)]

Thats not too far off the height of Mt. Everest! Amazing!

I don't know about flies but people catching air-borne spiders in nets suspended from balloons have had them from over 5 miles high.