housefly

The housefly (Musca domestica) is a common fly in the family Muscidae. Adults are about 6–7 mm long, with a gray thorax bearing four dark longitudinal stripes and a mostly black abdomen with pale bands. They occur worldwide, particularly in human-modified environments.

Life cycle and development: Females lay eggs in moist, decaying organic matter such as manure, garbage, or spoiled food. Each female can lay hundreds of eggs over her lifetime. Eggs hatch within 12–24 hours into white maggots (larvae). Maggots pass through three instars over 4–14 days, then pupate for 3–6 days before adults emerge. Development is temperature-dependent, allowing several generations per season in warm climates.

Behavior and feeding: Adults feed primarily on liquids and semi-liquid substances, using sponge-like mouthparts to regurgitate fluids that dissolve solids. They are attracted to odors from feces, garbage, and decaying matter and readily fly between resources, sometimes traveling long distances in search of food.

Medical significance: Houseflies are mechanical vectors of disease, capable of transferring bacteria and other pathogens from waste to food and surfaces. Pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Shigella have been associated with flies. Transmission is a concern in unsanitary environments; flies do not bite humans.

Control and prevention: Sanitation is key to reducing populations. Remove breeding sites by proper waste management and prompt disposal of manure and spoiled food. Physical barriers such as screens and sealing gaps, plus traps or baits, and the prudent use of insecticides as part of an integrated pest management approach, help minimize infestations.