Why Do Flies Congregate Around Centrally-hung Light Fittings, Even ...

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BIRDS AND THE BEESWhy do flies congregate around centrally-hung light fittings, even when the light is not on?

  • FLIES congregate where other flies have congregated. Their favourite places are marked by collections of brown spots about half a millimetre in diameter and are not restricted to light fittings, but if a light does attract flies this will initiate a 24-hour parking place. No doubt they are attracted by the parking markers put down by previous occupants. It's just like the scars along country roads which lack a lay-by.

    (Sir) James Beament, Queens' College, Cambridge.

  • FLIES USE the sun (the brightest visible object) to navigate a straight line. Keeping the sun's position and their relation to it, constant. When they find themselves indoors where the brightest light is hanging from the ceiling, the fly is able to reach this fake "sun" and indeed "overtake" it forcing the fly to pull a wicked right turn, again, and again, and again. Flies do this when the light is not on, probably because they are tired from flying round and around, when the light is on.

    Kevin Ryan, Queens, New York ([email protected])

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