Houseflies

Eggs: The eggs are white, elongate and about 1/20" long. Larva: The larva is also referred to as a maggot. When it first emerges from the egg it is transparent. As it grows it assumes a creamy white color. Maggots have no legs and are somewhat carrot shaped. Two small openings used for breathing are located at the hind end. They're about 2/5" long. Pupa: The pupa are reddish-brown in color. They are barrel-shaped and about 3/8" long. Pupal cases are sometimes mistaken for American cockroach egg capsules. Adults: The adults have two wings (most adult insects have four). There are four narrow black stripes located on the thorax or area just behind the head. The adult is 1/4" long. Where are they found and how do they develop? House flies are the most common flies found in homes, restaurants and other structures where man and his domestic animals live. Adult flies lay eggs in horse, cow, pig, dog, poultry and human manure, garbage or decaying meat. They can readily breed in fresh and wet incinerated garbage but not in scattered, dry garbage. They may also breed in wet flour and soybean meal around industrial plants. As many as 868 fly pupa can develop from 1 ounce of manure. What is their life cycle? Houseflies go through 4 stages of development: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The entire life cycle can be completed in 7-10 days under ideal conditions. Adult females can lay as many as 2,700 eggs in 30 days but more commonly lay 350-900 in 5 or 6 different batches. The eggs which are laid singly but often appear in clusters hatch in 6 to 24 hours. The maggot remains in the breeding media for 4-10 days, feeding and growing. In wet breeding areas, full grown larvae climb to the surface or sides of the breeding media before pupating. There have been cases of the larva crawling a distance of 150 ft. from the breeding source in order to pupate. The pupal stage lasts 3-6 days. The adult female is ready to lay eggs 2 2 days after emergence and continues to lay eggs for about one month. Adult flies live from 30-60 days during warmer months. In Northern areas, some adults may survive indoors for several months. It appears that flies continue to breed all year in low numbers in heated buildings such as dirty restaurants or incinerator rooms. In the spring these flies disperse to other buildings and increase in numbers rapidly. Do they bite? Adult house flies do not bite. They have sponging mouthparts for feeding. In order to feed on a piece of food, the fly must first regurgitate some saliva on the food to soften it. The food is transformed into a liquid and sponged up. What are fly specks? Black specks left on walls and surfaces where the fly rests are deposits of saliva and fecal material. Do they carry disease? Houseflies are a danger to the health of man and animals principally because it carries and spreads disease organisms. They move from garbage and sewage to our dinner plates. It carries bacteria on the outside of its body, it regurgitates saliva and deposits wastes on human food. By comparison the cockroach is sanitary. How far can they fly, where do they rest? Houseflies usually stay near their breeding places but records show they can travel up to 28 miles carried by wind currents. These flies can move 4-6 miles within 24 hours. Flies prefer to rest on corners and edges of thin objects such as wire and strings. At night they usually rest near their food sources, 5-15 ft. off the ground.