Hoverflies

FrostedNipple · 20 Apr 2009 at 12:53

Why do they hover? Do they do it just because they can? Because all i see is a sitting target for birds.

Nick1881 · 20 Apr 2009 at 12:55

They do it so we can have target practice, thats how I saw it when I was a kid anyway lol

FrostedNipple · 20 Apr 2009 at 12:58

Tennis rackets are brilliant for getting them

they don't die either so it's a game you can play all day

Cosimo · 20 Apr 2009 at 12:59

To target their prey.

DampCat · 20 Apr 2009 at 12:59

I was thinking about this in the garden yesterday when i was eating a sandwhich. Do they ever sit down? I saw one and he was hovering for 20 minutes or so in the same spot, and i just thought... dude... sit down.

SourChipmunk · 20 Apr 2009 at 13:05

The randomness that is GD still never ceases to amaze me.

hargi · 20 Apr 2009 at 13:06

DampCat said:
and i just thought... dude... sit down.

LOL

Mat · 20 Apr 2009 at 13:07

They do it to impress the females. The more steadily they can hover, the more attractive they are to the fems. They will defend their little 'patch' of space aggressively and will chase anything that appears to be a female flying through it... you can try this by flicking something of a similar small size past the fly.

SourChipmunk · 20 Apr 2009 at 13:09

Doesn't work with humans. Just try hovering around one of the girls in the office for 20 minutes.

Cosimo · 20 Apr 2009 at 13:12

Raist said:
Just try hovering around one of the girls in the office for 20 minutes.

Done it many times.

me227 · 20 Apr 2009 at 13:16

Raist said:
Doesn't work with humans. Just try hovering around one of the girls in the office for 20 minutes.

Ah but how still did you hover? Thats the only reason I can see why it wouldn't work.

FrostedNipple · 20 Apr 2009 at 13:21

Stand in the same spot and just stare. Guarantee it will work.

Solari · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:06

I always thought these were really cool little creatures

Very impressive how they stay so still for so long.

Conscript · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:09

What on earth is a hoverfly?

DampCat · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:10

Like a really small, less angry wasp.

Conscript · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:12

Oh I think I know what you mean. I thought they were called sand flies.

Solari · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:13

DampCat said:
Like a really small, less angry wasp.

What is the point of wasps anyway, they just seem like agressive, useless things? I hate the flippin' things... Bees are actually important and I've never had one of those sting me.

DampCat · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:14

Solari said:
What is the point of wasps anyway, they just seem like agressive, useless things? I hate the flippin' things... Bees are actually important and I've never had one of those sting me.

I don't really know. They just multiply.

Like us i guess.

Wait, this is going to get deep...

Prophetic · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:20

The point of wasps is to sting people...

V4NT0M · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:21

Why do cows moo?