tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post7846845134057986522..comments2024-02-06T10:31:24.491-07:00Comments on Watching the World Wake Up: The Amazing Housefly Part 1: Stabilizers, Feet and GenderWatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02248341788957416471noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-19641985578649264592012-10-28T22:24:42.958-06:002012-10-28T22:24:42.958-06:00halteres not modified or evolved wingset; nor are ...halteres not modified or evolved wingset; nor are they like any rotor; more an organic gyroscope; beats in opposite direction of wings; sway or puff of air, or anything that takes it off course causes the entire assembly to twist; cluster of nerves where connected send messages to brain and instantly gets it back on course! WowAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-45000247198351219502009-11-14T12:22:27.439-07:002009-11-14T12:22:27.439-07:00Jube- Great question. The live shots were about 3-...Jube- Great question. The live shots were about 3-4” away (and I took ~20 to get 3 I could work with.) The shot of the dead fly I used for the haltere and eye-facet close-ups (<a href="http://watchingtheworldwakeup.blogspot.com/2009/11/amazing-housefly-part-2-coolest-eye.html" rel="nofollow">next post</a>) was about 1.5” away. The fly in the car was sluggish; I suspect she might’ve been trapped inside from the night before, left overnight in a cool garage. (And yes, I have heat- my car isn’t <i>that</i> old- but it’s only about a 15 minute drive to the office, so maybe not enough time for her to fully warm up.) She moved around a bit, but never far from that window. When I finally opened the door, I had to “shoo” her to fly off.<br /><br />But I’ve also noticed in general that flies are super-easy to swat on/near windows; I suspect the transparent surface throws them off somehow.Watcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248341788957416471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-89194864402206622782009-11-14T10:26:56.577-07:002009-11-14T10:26:56.577-07:00How come the fly did not fly away when you were 1....How come the fly did not fly away when you were 1.5 inches away from it in the car when you got to work? Don't you have heat, or was it dead?Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10896006691904225007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-57241380725841943052009-11-10T10:45:09.960-07:002009-11-10T10:45:09.960-07:00Some docs are using the Blue bottle maggots to &qu...Some docs are using the Blue bottle maggots to "debride" dead tissue on folks with chronic lower extremity wounds since they only eat the dead stuff and leave the live stuff there.<br /><br />I have always wondered what they did with all the flies that eventually emerge!<br /><br />As for Botfly Larvae, to save you looking it up:<br />http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/352/23/e21<br /><br />http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/352/23/e21/DC1<br /><br />I freaked when I pulled one from a dude who had recently vacationed in the Amazon Basin. I had not heard of them before and was totally surprised when the wound "moved" as I was probing it.<br /><br />I searched for redtail fly, but can't find it. They just have a red tip at the end of the abdomen.Enelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967981896718833776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-91291291473968241272009-11-10T10:36:36.450-07:002009-11-10T10:36:36.450-07:00Sally- don’t give up on the PowerShot- a couple ti...Sally- don’t give up on the PowerShot- a couple tips: Don’t use the “Auto” mode; keep it in Manual, but use the close-up mode (flower icon.) Best shooting distance for something really teeny is ~1.5 inches; any closer it won’t focus as well. If it’s bright out, but still not focusing, force the flash on. If you’re trying to focus something on a twig/branch, put your hand up behind it, focus the shot, take your hand away, then shoot. And lastly, if it’s not focusing, turn the camera off, then on and back into closeup mode again. Don’t know why that works, but I do it all the time. ¿Y tu lo hablas también? ¡Verdad, somos hermanos de alma!<br /><br />Enel- It’s the shiny <i>blues</i> that are Bluebottles. The shiny greens are probably- get ready for it- “Common Greenbottle” flies, <i>Lucilia sericata</i>. Also a blow-fly, lays eggs in dead/rotting flesh. But "red tailed"? I’m drawing a blank. I’ll check my bug-guide when I get home tonightWatcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248341788957416471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-63971385702486107712009-11-10T08:47:10.628-07:002009-11-10T08:47:10.628-07:00"Botflys" That brings back some graphic..."Botflys" That brings back some graphic memories....<br /><br />Back on topic: if the shiny greens are Bluebottles (which also have medicinal uses), what are the red tailed ones that look like big houseflys?Enelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967981896718833776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-42196193493161668392009-11-10T07:02:32.153-07:002009-11-10T07:02:32.153-07:00Another excellent contribution to the blog world (...Another excellent contribution to the blog world (el mundo blogo?)... I didn't know (any of) that! Your graphics keep getting awesomer, the chiste was perfecto, un buen idea, etc. And yes, great photos. (I can't get the power shot to do anything.) <br /><br />Y de espanol, hables verdad! Otro buen idea...Sallyhttp://foothillsfancies.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-46782774466115534322009-11-09T16:39:12.279-07:002009-11-09T16:39:12.279-07:00SBJ- Yes, that was my PowerShot SD780- can you bel...SBJ- Yes, that was my PowerShot SD780- can you believe it? That little camera is absolutely amazing and practically weightless. I spent an extra $44 for the Best-Buy crash replacement, which I’ll probably use at some point. And the new shoulder-holster has been totally secure and fast on the draw. <br /><br />Otra cosa- Buena idea. ¡De este momento adelante, hablemos solamente en español mientras andar en bicicleta! (No te preocupues, estoy seguro que tu español está mucho major que mio. Puedo hablar solamente de los arboles, la comida, y las meteorólogistas. (Mi amigo “Ian El Joven” ya le gusta hablarlo mientras andar tambien. Y Vicente es Catalán.)Watcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248341788957416471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-86135937712778945442009-11-09T15:40:33.858-07:002009-11-09T15:40:33.858-07:00Awesome shot of the fly. Was that with your point ...Awesome shot of the fly. Was that with your point and shoot that you carry on the bike? I would have just claimed that the dirty window was actually a granite countertop and the spots were the patina of the granite. I so need to get a small camera for biking. I brought my biggish one to Fruita but took like six pictures all weekend because I didn't feel like stopping and getting it out of my camelback. <br /><br />OK, so I just had this great idea. Since we both are willing to get up early to ride and we both speak Spanish but rarely have opportunity to practice, why not speak Spanish when we ride together? Makes sense right? Of course, I also know myself well enough to know that I'll be lazy and after at most two mornings will just speak English instead, but it was a nice idea. Almost as nice of an idea as watching the weather on Univision. Wow.Ski Bike Junkiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295969126174565599noreply@blogger.com