High Altitude Insects

[hawkerjock]

Had a fly pass out on the dash at about 5000 feet cabin altitude. At altitude for about 2 1/2 hours. Thought the thing was dead. Coming back down thru about 3000 feet cabin altitude the fly woke up. Opened the cabin door to let pass out, and the thing flew out with them.

 

[TimsKeeper]

Watch out for those Semenhole gnats

Geez, I was flying into VRB a few weeks back and almost caught a couple of 'em as high as 6000' on the way in and out.

I wish something could be done, they are very pesky. Also, I think they only fly in groups of three

 

[Pickle]

Monarch butterflies have been spotted as high as 29,000 feet. They also taste things with their feet.

 

[dispatchguy]

Not quite an insect, but I saw this in the PIREPS one day for LEX

152112
UA /OV LEX270010/TM 2108/FL220/TP A306/RM SINGLE GOOSE SIGHTED HEADING WBND

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

I wasn't very high, but I probibally set a record for size. I had a darned buzzard hit the nose of my 310R at 900' over BKL just to the left of center on the nosecone. He ricochet off the nosecone and into the left propeller splattering his innards and outards all over the windscreen, empanage, and wing. Had to be as big as a goose, although I never saw him (nearly midnight)... come to think of it... it was a goose. (Cost my company nearly $6k)

 

[Freightdog75]

Flew into dupage today. Coming westbound over the pond about 35-40 miles out, at only 5,000, I hit one heII of a bug.

1.) Why would a bug be cruising out over the middle of Lake Michigan?

2.)Why is it cruising along at 5000 ft.?

I was gonna ask the bug, but he didn't fair out to well in the collision.

FD75

 

[TopGun-MAV]

some areas of the country can support insects at that altitude. in florida we see the regualrly in the flight levels due to the moist air and unstable atmosphere. many of these insects are simply lifted to those extreme altitudes from convective means.

just my 2 cents

 

[AAsRedHeadedbro]

Funny you mention Florida...

We were descending out of 16,000' one morning going into Orlando and hit a huge bug. I have no idea what it was but it startled the he11 out of the both of us - sounded like a rock coming through the windshield. It left a splater about 4 inches around right smack dab in the middle of my windshield.

Funny thing was - the sky was perfectly clear with no clouds anywhere and it was just a few hours after daybreak. He must've peddled awfully hard to get THAT high. Poor guy. All that work for nothing.