Fly by night?
POST CONTAINS A CREEPY CRAWLY PHOTO!
The other day I noticed a fly laying on it’s back on the kitchen window ledge. As I went to remove it, he wriggled his legs frantically in a vain attempt at getting on his feet in order to invade any food he might find laying around on the surfaces. He assumes we are silly enough to leave food out and uncovered. He was obviously close to death so I left him to end his moments naturally. I say ‘he’ because anything that ugly cant be female. Sorry if there are any men reading this, but isn’t that so ladies? Well Ok, I know there are females really, but ughhh, they are ugly!
As a dutiful blogger who [ahem] always has her camera at the ready, I decided, for your perusal, I would do a bit of happy snapping. Those who don’t like looking at ugly creatures need to shut there eyes at this point, because I cropped in close in order to see the pretty detail on his body! Actually, I don’t want you to shut your eyes really. I want you to see my exquisit photography.
Anyway, I checked the photos on my computer and settled down for the evening, with no more thoughts of the fly in the kitchen. Before I went to bed I would dispose of it.
At 3am I went into the kitchen to unplug everything before going up, and saw the fly. I was about to get a tissue to remove him when he wriggled his legs just as frantically as before! He was still alive! He’d wriggled so hard his leg had dropped off! Really! One of his legs was laying beside him! I quickly scrunched him up in the tissue to put him out of his misery. Why do they take so long to die?
As ugly as he was ….. poor little thing.
Stumble it!
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Awake In Rochester
| 11 September 2009 at 19:43
“I say ‘he’ because anything that ugly cant be female.” LOL!
Poor thing! Glad you ended it for him.
Awake In Rochester´s last blog ..I missed my appointment with Super Shrink
Ruth
| 11 September 2009 at 20:18
He is exquisitely ugly and beautiful. Your photograph is STUNNINGLY GREAT!
Ruth´s last blog ..l’atelier: layers and layers
Barb-WillThink4Wine
| 11 September 2009 at 20:24
Awesome macro shot, Babs! Nasty subject, but awesome macro!
Barb-WillThink4Wine´s last blog ..Jackpot!
beetle
| 11 September 2009 at 21:10
Awake: Well, you agree, don’t you?
Ruth: You know, I’m glad our eyes can’t see flies and other insects in that much detail when they are flying around. Yuck!
Barb: Thank you. It was taken with my little camera, not my SLR. It’s pretty good for macros.
Staci
| 11 September 2009 at 22:37
Wow, I want your camera. I’ve never been able take one that close or that well. Then again, my hands always tend to shake when I’m taking a pic. They’re perfectly still until I go to hit click. Then you’d think I was taking a pic in an earthquake.
I didn’t think that I would ever feel sorry for a fly, but when you were talking about how hard it was kicking, I kept thinking, “Poor baby.” At least he’s out of his misery now.
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Eric and Flynn
| 11 September 2009 at 23:20
I would have eaten him for you if you asked.
Flynn
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June
| 11 September 2009 at 23:55
Terrific photogrpah…and yes, he’s ugly..but great detail! Thank goodness you put him out of his misery.
June´s last blog ..Photoshop Tutorial
beetle
| 12 September 2009 at 3:33
Staci: I didn’t think I would ever feel sorry for a fly either, but I did. I even spoke to it as I took it out of it’s misery.
Eric and Flynn: Ha ha! He certainly wouldn’t have had such a prolonged death that way!
June: Thank you. Poor fly. I would have done it sooner if I’d known he would last that long.
wermut
| 12 September 2009 at 7:42
Greetings,
he he… that fly is ugly alright…
if been meaning to take a picture of ugly insects myself and put it in my blog, but i blew it… a month ago i captured BIG spider (really big) i killed it and took take a picture with my camera, but, i did stupid thing after that… i accidentally erased all the pictures in it (DOH’) sobs~
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How Did I Get Myself Into Photography?
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Daisy the Curly Cat
| 12 September 2009 at 10:55
Poor thing! I can’t imagine doing anything so hard that my leg falls off. It seems like flies are designed poorly if landing upside-down could be fatal!
Daisy the Curly Cat´s last blog ..Photo Hunters: Electric
beetle
| 12 September 2009 at 13:04
Wermut: Fancy losing all your photos! That’s not good. For me to capture a spider, it would HAVE to be dead!
Daisy: Ha ha! I can’t imagine my leg falling off either! Keep a look out for any fly that’s laying on it’s back. It will be an easy catch for you
JD at I Do Things
| 12 September 2009 at 17:34
I’m torn between pity and disgust for that fly. Regardless, that is truly an amazing photo. What a pro blogger you are! I probably would’ve just wanted to get rid of it.
Ruth
| 12 September 2009 at 23:51
You took that without a macro??
Ruth´s last blog ..l’atelier: layers and layers
beetle
| 13 September 2009 at 0:17
JD: Well, I had to get my camera this time. Twice I forgot and I thought my readers would revolt if I missed a photo again
Ruth: Yes, I used my canon point and shoot. It takes pretty good macros. I would love a macro lens but will have to choose between macro or wide angle/telephoto. We’ll see.
Swubird
| 13 September 2009 at 3:23
Babs:
Egad! My queen goes absolutely crazy whenever a pesky fly finds his way into the kitchen. We all have to duck and run because she wields the flyswatter like she’s on a crusade. And anyone who gets in her way is liable to get a swat or two.
By the way, great picture.
Happy trails.
Swubird´s last blog ..THE PROGERIA SISTERS
Jeff
| 13 September 2009 at 3:57
Actually, when you look at them closely they seem quite complex. I always just looked at them as an annoying little black thing that wants to land on my hamburger. Now, the next time I smack one flat with a fly swatter I’ll think a little more highly of it.
Jeff´s last blog ..Allow me to paint you a sandwich
LadyBanana
| 13 September 2009 at 10:10
Very good photo there! Best place for flies – deaded!
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Granny Grimble
| 13 September 2009 at 13:21
That’s a terrific picture Babs. Congrats! You handled the fly differently to the way I would have done. I would have brushed it on to a piece of paper, taken it out in the garden and tried to get it back on it’s feet again. I would have then left it to recuperate. I hate them in the house, but like the saying goes, couldn’t kill a fly!
Granny Grimble´s last blog ..GOOD NEWS!
beetle
| 13 September 2009 at 14:01
Swubird: Yes, I think flies are the worst of all to have in your home. The problem is that you can’t see where they’ve been with their regurgitating!
Jeff: Yes, I was amazed the first time I ever took a macro shot of one!
Ladybanana: Ha ha! I hate them in the house!
Granny Grimble: You wouldn’t even put it out of it’s misery? I hate them but couldn’t let it continue it’s struggle. As nothing had hurt it, I assume he was dying of natural causes, like old age. I’ve found a dead fly in the house before.
ann
| 13 September 2009 at 15:05
Sounds like something I would do, take advantage of a disabled bug just to get a photograph…lol
ann´s last blog ..You get a D
Jude
| 13 September 2009 at 16:12
Every time I see a fly it reminds me of Jeff Goldblum, I wish I’d never seen that movie, so grateful your fly didn’t have a human head. Great photo though, have a great Sunday.
Jude´s last blog ..Weeping Blue Atlas Gettysburg Square
beetle
| 13 September 2009 at 20:05
Ann: Can’t let such an opportunity go. They don’t stay still enough normally
Jude: I must admit to having flashes of that film when I looked at the photo, though I didn’t watch all of the film – Yuck!
Kathryn
| 13 September 2009 at 20:30
My God….that is one ugly fly. I agree…it simply must be male….although, it’s tenacious determination tells me it *could* be female…and Mother Nature does have a habit of making us gals plainer than the males….(grrrrr.)
Great photo!
Kathryn´s last blog ..Mr. Popularity
Maureen
| 13 September 2009 at 22:59
Babs: You have hereby earned back your previously-docked 2 Blogging Points for “Grave Photographic Unpreparedness During A Potential Food Disaster”… plus 10 for incredible macro photography of a Fly by Night.
Bravo.
Photos like this make me stare in amazement and awe at the complexity of even such a small thing as a fly. Well done indeed!
Maureen´s last blog ..The Recital
Jay
| 14 September 2009 at 10:05
That’s a great photo! You captured some good detail in there, Babsie!
I photographed a dead cicada once, and all my friends thought I was nuts. But hey – it was a photo op – so why not? LOL!
They do sometimes take a long time to die, don’t they? But console yourself with the thought that they don’t have anything like the nervous system we have, so they can’t suffer as much. Good for you for ending his doomed little life quickly though.
Muscle Man
| 14 September 2009 at 12:46
Why are dead bugs always lying on their back?
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beetle
| 14 September 2009 at 14:19
Kathryn: I expect it’s because the female seems to have all the choices. The male needs to win her over somehow
Maureen: Oh I am so relieved that I get my points back, and with 10 extra! Thank you! The detail in the tiniest creatures always amazes me!
Jay: I LOVE macro photography and would definitely shoot a cicada too. In fact, I think I would like to shoot all kinds of insects actually!
I’m glad they don’t suffer pain. Insects have horrible endings sometimes.
Muscle Man: You know, I have never thought of that one, but you’re right. Mind you, they couldn’t lay on their side
meleah rebeccah
| 14 September 2009 at 15:27
thanks for the creepy crawly warning!!
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Jackie
| 15 September 2009 at 1:32
Babs I have to say that I would never have thought to take a macro shot of fly dieing. However, now that you have done this I am most intrigued.
I am going to have to try this, that is, if Rascal and/or MolliPop ever lets them live long enough to die on their own.
They are folly and apparently must taste very yummy to kittens and small dogs.
Jackie´s last blog ..MM Sunday-Shinade Acres-A Charmed Life
beetle
| 15 September 2009 at 18:51
Meleah: I thought I ought to warn readers
Jackie: Cats can assist you by catching the fly first. Then if you’re quick, you can get a few shots in before they eat it!
Liudmila
| 15 September 2009 at 20:59
Ufff… I don’t know why but I don’t like all the insects. Ufff… Bad… Ufff… At least you have it dead. And I have sooo many mosquitos flying perfectly alive and healthy now here around me… Those are sentient beings too… It’s sooooooo difficult to receive the reincarnation as a mosquito…
Liudmila´s last blog ..Incendiary That Nobody Can Catch
Chinaren
| 21 September 2009 at 5:11
Good, if horrible photo. I think you need a warning further up the page tho, kinda put me off my lunch!
beetle
| 21 September 2009 at 13:46
Liudmila: I’m not a lover of all insects, though some I do like. The fly isn’t one of them
Chineran: I’m sorry about your lunch. Perhaps I should have made it that you had to scroll way down the page
Walter
| 1 October 2009 at 6:30
It’s a mystery why that poor ugly thing strives to live despite the seeming hopelessness. Why can’t humans be the same. I admire his will to live, till his last.
beetle
| 1 October 2009 at 16:56
Walter: Yes, I see quite a few insect fighting like mad for their life when they are near the end. I think some humans do, though not all have any fight in them.