(Musca domestica)
The House fly lives in close association with humans. Not only are they a nuisance, but due to their habits of where they live and breed, they are excellent vectors of diseases causing organisms such as typhoid, cholera, pinworm, paratyphoid, roundworm, and tapeworms. Due to the filth in which these flies are associated with, they can easily spread these disease-causing organisms from garbage, sewage and other sources of filth and then transferred their body parts and mouthparts.
House flies have mouthparts which allow them to only ingest liquid materials. For a house fly to consume solid food material, they must liquefy the food first by regurgitating saliva onto the food material and then drawing the liquid back up with their sponging mouthparts.
Attracted to buildings by air currents and odors, house flies will feed on any suitable food source, be it excrement or human foods. This proclivity for a wide range of foods coupled with their habit of regurgitating on potential feeding sites is why these flies are particularly prolific disease spreaders.
House flies measure between 4 mm to 7.5 mm, with females usually larger than males. House flies have bulbous, reddish-eyes, sponge-like mouths and are often gray to black, with four vertical stripes along their backs. Additionally sporting two velvety stripes on their faces, both silver above and gold below.
House fly eggs of white and approximately 1.2 mm in length. The eggs hatch into cream-colored larvae with a greasy appearance. When entering the pupal stage, maggots develop dark, hard outer shells, legs, and wings, ultimately emerging as full-grown adult flies.
House flies are commonly found around human habitation, be it urban or rural areas. Their larvae grow best in human garbage, decaying foods, and feces. They are most likely to frequent manure heaps, garbage cans, pet waste and roadkill and have been known to travel up to 18 miles in search of food sources.
House flies like to lay their eggs in warm materials such as manure piles or decaying foods. They can go through a complete metamorphosis (egg, larvae (maggot), pupae, adult) in as little as six days if conditions are favorable.
The female house fly can lay anywhere from 350 to 900 eggs in her lifetime. Eggs hatch 8-20 hours after being laid and as many as 10-12 generations can be born in one summer.
House flies usually live 15-25 days, preferring an ideal temperature of 82.4°F.
How do l recognize a house fly?
House flies measure between 4 mm to 7 mm, with females usually being larger than males. They have bulbous, reddish-eyes, sponge-like mouths and are often gray to black with four dark stripes on their upper body.
Where am I most likely to find house flies?
House flies are most active during the day, often seen resting on floors, walls and ceilings. At night, they can be found close to food sources.
Are house flies hazardous to humans?
Yes. House flies are generally attracted to garbage, decaying foods and feces, but are quick to feed on any exposed foods, leading to the spread of diseases.
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