How do flys know when I pick up the flyswatter?

[Swede]

Them little buggers are smart.

[wildhorses]

1. cos they can see 360 degrees?

[DarkTirade]

2. I've always thought they were psychic

So when I used to draw a silly little stick figure comic and I started spoofing superheroes, I made it so that my character 'Bugdude' had 'Fly sense', instead of the 'Spider sense' that Spiderman has. :)

[radfringe]

3. They have your house bugged... :)

[riona]

4. Let's use some finesse

slow-w-w-l-y pick up the swatter and then pounce! Hit behind the fly. I'm no expert, but those creatures seem to take off in reverse.

[mainegreen]

5. I think I heard once that the hairs on their body pick up....

the increase in air pressure caused by the approaching fly swatter, and that is why it seems you can't sneak up on them: line of sight is not relevant.

:shrug:

[Blue Diadem]

6. I can loan you grandkitty, he's a great fly catcher.

He catches more than I can swat, although it's dangerous when he starts leaping. My daughter or I just holler "Jr., come get the buggy" and he does.

I spent about 20 minutes last night attempting to swat one, all I had was a newspaper. Jr. was with his Mom tucked away for the night. I swear that fly was teasing me, flying up to my face and then scootin' away.