House Flies
Common house flies (Musca domestica) are 3/16” to 5/16” long. They are a light gray color with four (4) distinct black stripes on the back of the thorax. The head is dominated by large red-brown eyes surrounded with a light gold stripe.
The larvae or maggots are spindle shaped and creamy white. They change into brown seed like puparium in which they metamorphose into adults.
House Fly Habits
House flies lay their eggs into rotting, fermenting organic matter, such as garbage, manure and soil contaminated with liquid organic matter. The eggs hatch within a day and the larvae burrow into the breeding material. They can finish their development in as little as three (3) days, at which time they migrate to drier portions of material in which they are developing. This explains why we sometimes see maggots crawling out of the area in which they are laid, or pupal cases found outside of the food source. Adult flies feed on a variety of liquid materials and solid foods, which they liquefy with regurgitated fluids. They have been associated with filth-related diseases.
Questions To Ask About House Flies
- Where are you seeing them?
- How often do you take out your garbage?
- When did you last wash-out your garbage cans?
- Have you seen worm-like maggots crawling around garbage cans?
- Where do you discard your grass clippings?
- Do you have a dog?
- Do you have a small baby?
House Fly Inspection Tips
Pay particular attention to garbage areas and areas where yard waste is discarded, or compost is stored. Look for pet areas and determine the manner in which pet droppings are handled. Make sure garbage is being discarded on a regular basis; accumulated garbage is a good breeding site. How are dirty diapers (if any) being handled?
