TEST YOUR FLY IQ

Question 1: Flies are involved with the spread of many different diseases, including: a) Strangles. b) West Nile virus. c) Rabies. Question 2: The amount of distance a typical urban house fly will cover in a day averages: a) 1,000 yards. b) 3 miles. c) 20 miles. Question 3: How long does a typical fly live? a) 24 hours. b) 4 to 5 days. c) 30 days or more. Question 4: What is the buzzing sound a fly makes? a) Vibration of tiny hairs on the fly’s body as he moves through the air. b) The beating of the fly’s tiny wings. c) The fly’s legs repeatedly rubbing together. Question 5: How many eggs does a female fly lay in a batch? a) 75 to 100. b) 1,000. c) 10,000. Question 6: Describe a fly’s field of vision. a) A fly has blind spots directly in front of and behind its body. b) A fly can see 360 degrees around its body. c) Flies don’t see well at all—they primarily function by feeling vibrations. Question 7: How do flies eat? a) Flies have moveable mouth parts that allow them to bite and chew their food. b) Flies collect nutrients on their feet then transfer them to their mouths. c) Flies suck up liquids with a proboscis. Question 8: What is the typical “flight plan” for a fly in motion? a) A fly can only travel in a forward direction—that’s why they circle around. b) Flies can hover, fly vertically, and fly forward and backward. c) Flies can hover and jump backward, but only fly in a forward direction. Question 9: How resistant are flies to different types of repellants? a) Resistance varies between groups of flies according to location. b) Flies are sensitive to most repellents, when properly applied. c) Fly repellants are completely worthless. Question 10: Do flies have any redeeming features? a) None at all. Flies are nothing but a nuisance. b) Even though it’s disgusting, they do serve a purpose when they eat decaying matter—but that’s about it. c) Flies have quite a bit to offer. They eat other types of pests as well as decaying matter, and, just like bees, can play a part in pollination. Answers: 1. (a), 2. (a), 3. (c), 4. (b), 5. (a), 6. (b) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (a), 10. (c)