ENT 532 Fall 2024: Fly On Leaf Observations

Photos and sketches of a fly I observed hanging out on a leaf. Located outside the Architecture Building at Penn State. The fly was found near a water tower surrounded by various flora (09/25/2024).

My observations:

6:30pm: Currently there is a light drizzle and the sky is clouded over. The fly sits perched on a leaf, the body hanging diagonal to the leaf with the abdomen hanging below and the head poking above. Its body is facing upwards towards the sky, a raindrop sitting on its eye. I see that the legs have little spikes, what I assume to be the fly's sensilla. It seems to struggle to change position, occasionally moving its legs but not its body. I wonder if it got caught trying to escape the rain? Before I attempt to collect it, I see that the fly appears to pull itself free, and begins moving along the leaf, though with difficulty. As I collect it, I wonder what enabled the fly to be able to pull itself free? Are some flies more efficient at getting unstuck than others? I would think so, but what traits help aid one fly from freeing itself, and hinder another?

Works

Creators
  1. Kat Wysnewski
Deposited September 26, 2024
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Kat Wysnewski
Deposited September 26, 2024
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Kat Wysnewski
Deposited September 26, 2024
Access
Open Access

Metadata

Title ENT 532 Fall 2024: Fly On Leaf Observations
Creator
  1. Kat Wysnewski
Keyword
  1. ENT532
DOI doi:10.26207/zhja-q420
Deposited at September 26, 2024

Analytics