Fly Swats

How do flies know when you pick up or put down a fly swatter and how do they know what it is for anyway?

SERIOUSLY. The last few days there have been some VERY annoying flies in my office. Every single time I pick up the swatter the fly is gone. It doesn't matter how long I sit holding the swatter the fly will not show up. The very second I lay the swatter down, HERE COMES THE FLY! No matter how long I wait to pick up the swatter again the fly pesters me, then when I finally pick up the swatter, the fly is gone again. How do they do that? I KNOW it is not my imagination. Has anyone else noticed this? It drives me crazy! I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ME SWINGING THE SWATTER AT THE FLY. I MEAN SITTING STILL HOLDING THE SWATTER.

Public Comments

1. The eye on a fly is like a ton of little eyeballs that can see in all directions so it's not possible to really sneak up on them unless they are really out of it or stupid. So they see something coming towards them (not knowing what it is though) and fly away.
2. you ever seen a flies eyes under a microscope? they see many directions at once. as for how do they know, survival of the fittest
3. For your information, The fly is the fastest living thing on earth.
4. I don't think the flies actually know that you have a murder weapon at your disposal. Your movement in obtaining the fly swatter is what causes them to fly away. The fly is still there somewhere, just not near enough to bother you. Wait long enough with fly swatter in hand and it'll be back. The best way to kill a fly is to hit it directly from above. Flies "take-off" similarly to helicopters; they have vertical movement first before they can have horizontal. I'm pretty good with the old fly-swatter. One particularly bad summer day I killed over 30 in my house.
5. aww man, that is hilarious!!! i know what your going through. i used to wait for them to come into the kitchen, and they would only come when i lost interest. now i just swing at them with my hand. they die if i hit it hard enough, then i feel a bit like the karate kid. this person above me had 30 flies in her house?!
6. Yes, I have noticed this many times. This is proof of evolution. Its become parts of a flies instincts to recognise a swatter much like an animal knows its prey or enemies. (&^$$^&@flies.)........ :)
7. yes I do know exactly what you mean. You can swat at it with your hand and it just taunts you but the minute you pick up that swatter they're out of there. I've come to the conclusion that the fly can understand our motives. Somewhat like other wild animals. If you have a peace full intent towards it it will come closer than say someone waiting till it gets close enough to sling a rock or other projectile at it! I'm not sure how, maybe it's some form of mutual telepathy that all creatures possess that we've forgotten how to understand.
8. could be one of those high tech micro spy flys...incredible machines...
9. Flies are the fastest living things on earth, danng, I thought it was the humming bird because they flap those wings hecka fast so they're more "alive" technically than humans or whatever. Dude, they'll never outsmart a dude with a 100 mile/hr swing, imagine jose canseco hittin' one of those