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Why Do Flies Fly In A Circle

Flies can be particularly bothersome in the summer time due to entering homes through open windows. This is particularly the case for Ireland right now as in July pest control experts warned of an “increased threat of flies this summer” for households in Cork, Kerry, Sligo, Galway and Mayo.

Rentokil stated that they have had a 16% increase in callouts for infestations between January to July when compared with the same period last year. The insects can spread bacteria such as E-coli and campylobacter so it’s important to get help if you feel they’re excessive.

Generally speaking, it is fairly normal to see a few in your home however during the summer months. The pests get inside for a number of reasons, but most are attracted to rubbish, ripe produce, decaying organic filth or moisture.

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Although not pleasant, they are an integral part of our ecosystem necessary for the recycling of dead matter and for feeding numerous animals, so it is important not to kill them. Seeing a few flying about your house may not necessarily mean that you have a problem but many question why flies tend to get stuck in your house and fly in circles in the centre of the room – despite the light not being switched on.

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The answer is actually quite surprising and though it may seem quite aimless, there is a purpose. As insects are quite small, they require somewhat of a meeting place to try and attract a mate.

According to Neuroethologist Jochen Zeil, who has a PHD in the Sexual Dimorphism in the Visual System of Flies from the University of Sussex, the insects seek out well-defined airspaces underneath landmarks as a way to mark their territory.

In the absence of other flies, they will then begin patrolling the area, turning at sharp right angles, and chase away other competitors. The competing fly may then settle to patrol a space that is merely 10 – 30 cm underneath.

This positioning suggests that females approach landmarks from the side crossing the gaze of the males. The bigger the swarm the more it will attract lady flies.

Most people know that flies have phototaxis i.e. an attraction to light, so whilst it might be true that they fly towards your faux crystal chandelier when it is on this is not the primarily the reason. To put in human terms, it’s a singles bar for flies.

Photograph of a house fly eating bread (Image: Getty Images/Gallo Images)

A fly’s vision is usually to blame for why it can’t make it back out of your living room. Unlike humans, flies have compound eyes which are made of thousands of individual visual receptors. They’re super perceptive at sensing movement and can see a 360 degree view of the room but only have a visual range of a few yards.

Due to lack of a pupil, they cannot control how much light they let in and therefore cannot focus and have trouble discerning colours. Unlike us, they can see polarized light in which the light travels in only one plane but this doesn’t help when it comes to perceiving a window.

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If you want to help a fly out, turn off your lights and TV at night and let them be drawn to the light outside and fly out of an open window.

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