House Fly
Musca Domestica |
|
| Colour |
Grey to black. Face between eyes and mouth is golden. Four dark stripes on dorsum of thorax. Grey-yellow venter of abdomen. |
| Size |
6 - 8 mm (1/4 to 5/16 in) long. |
| Development phases |
After hatching from egg, metamorphosis through three larval instars (maggots), pupa, and adult |
| Generational time |
As little as 8 days, but usually 10 to 14 days. |
| Oviposition site |
Excrement of humans and animals, whether fresh or aged; garbage; decaying plant or animal materials generally. |
| Larval habitat and feeding |
Larvae inhabit and feed on substrates listed as oviposition sites, taking soluble nutrients directly from the substrate as well as feeding on the microbial flora and fauna living in the substrate. |
| Adult habitat and feeding |
Time spent on "hosts" is incidental and opportunistic. These flies rest on nearly any surface including trees, weeds, crops, structures, and soil near livestock units. They are especially likely to rest at night in building rafters or high on walls. Adults feed on decaying plant and animal matter, manure, and solubles such as sugars. Repeated salivation, ingestion, regurgitation aids in predigestion. |
| Seasons |
April through mid-October, but most abundant during hot summer period of June to early September. |
| Damage caused |
Spreads many kinds of microbial pathogens via faeces, regurgita, and microbes adhering to fly body and leg surfaces; e.g. mastitis, salmonella, poultry pullorum, anthrax, polio, among others. |