What the Heck Is That? Ordinary Things That Look Insane Microscopic!

Housefly Feet Are Built for Stickiness

Zoom in on the foot of a housefly, and suddenly, it’s less of an annoying bug and more of a biomechanical marvel. Each foot—technically called a tarsus—ends in a pair of claws and soft pads known as pulvilli. Under a microscope, those pads are covered in thousands of tiny hairs, each tipped with a sticky fluid.

These hairs help the fly grip smooth surfaces, walls, ceilings—anything it wants. The claws do the heavy lifting on rough textures, while the pads handle the smooth stuff. It’s a tag-team situation, perfectly designed for walking upside down and escaping swats. Annoying? Yes. Impressive? Also, yes, unfortunately.

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