Why do flies hit the windows?

If flies hit the window panes, it’s not because they’re stupid. Explanations.

Are flies so stupid that they can’t find their way outside? Not so sure… If they hit the window panes, it’s for a reason other than their level of intelligence.

The fly is not completely stupid…

Whether around us or around food, flies have a knack for annoying us. To stop his buzzing and his incessant comings and goings, there is only one solution: make him leave the room. However, once it is open, it is not uncommon to have to wait for the fly to leave. Conversely, when a window is closed, the fly regularly comes and hits the glass to get out. And this is true even when the glass is open…

Is the fly endowed with a spirit of contradiction? Worse, is the fly completely stupid? The answer is elsewhere and it is scientifically proven.

An insect that can see 360 ​​degrees

Rather than “myopic as a mole”, we would be better off saying “myopic as a fly”. And for good reason, it has very poor vision. It is also on the list of the most myopic insects on Earth. A shame for the fly whose eyes are particularly imposing compared to the rest of its head. Composed of ommatidia, a type of facet that captures light independently, the fly’s eyes allow it to have a very wide field of vision. A little “mirror ball” side that gives the fly a disco look!

The fly can see 360 ​​degrees and distinguish 200 images per second, compared to 24 for humans. Therefore, the fly is able to see behind itself. We understand better why it is so difficult to catch!

Also read: 10 natural tips against flies

But the fly doesn’t see the details!

The fly’s eyes and their ommatidia have one drawback, however: they do not allow it to perceive details. This explains why the fly is nearsighted and cannot find its way around properly in space.

When the fly manages to get out of a window, it is mainly a question of luck. In any case, it is not thanks to its eyes. Nor thanks to its antennae which are supposed to allow it to orient itself. Indeed, theFlies’ antennae cannot distinguish between natural and artificial light, and they are unable to determine whether light is coming from inside or outside a room. This explains why flies spend their time hitting themselves on windows…

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