Q: How do flies land on the...

Q: How do flies land on the ceiling?

A: According to neuroentomologist Gilles Laurent of Caltech, the secret lies in their extremely flexible legs. The fly flies next to the ceiling, right side up, as close as possible, then lifts its two front legs over its head and grabs the ceiling. It then pivots its body around the front legs so that all its legs can grab hold. To take off again, most just jump from the ceiling, propelled by their hind legs, and begin flying when they are in the air.

The secret to hanging on to the ceiling lies in the claws, visible with a hand magnifier, on the tips of each leg. There are also spongy pads with ridges, like ruffled potato chips, that help the feet grip the surface. To walk, the fly can release two of its six legs at one time without falling.