How do flies sit upside down on ceilings?

Bugs, Snails, Worms

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Have you ever been trying to shoo a pesky fly out the window, only to have it land upside down on your ceiling, where you can’t reach? How do flies stay stuck upside down like that?!

The reason a fly is able to land upside down on a ceiling or sideways on a wall is that flies have special sticky feet! These sticky feet have wide footpads that give them lost of sticking power, especially when all four feet are being used at once, which is what flies make sure to do. Their gluey footprints are also helped by tiny hairs on each foot that have a special shape which give them some sticky strength too.

If you’re wondering how such a sticky-footed fly ever gets unstuck after it lands, there’s an explanation for that too! In addition to gummy feet, flies also have a special toe-like claw on each foot, which is used to pry themselves free!

Sitting sideways on walls or upside down on ceilings is a skill that’s not just limited to flies. Can you name any other bugs who do this same thing?

Try to picture what the world would look like if you were a tiny fly way up on the ceiling, looking down at everything below you! Aside from being upside down, what do you think would be different about how you’d see things? Draw a picture of what you imagine!