Housefly

The housefly is a the most common type of fly that is believed to have originated from the Middle East during the Cenozoic period, also known as the Age of Mammals. They lay their eggs in decaying organic matter and have successfully spread throughout the world.

Appearance

• Adult is 5–8mm in length.
• Grey thorax with 4 narrow stripes.
• Buff or yellow abdomen
• Covered with small hairs that allow them to taste
• Complex compound eyes give them a wide field of vision
• 4th wing vein bent and wing tips slightly pointed
• Larva is white and tapers to a point at the head end. When (larvae) fully mature they are legless and 12 mm long

Life Cycle

• Eggs are laid in batches of 120 to 150 and hatch within 8–72 hours.
• The larvae (maggots) of House Flies take 3–60 days to mature.
• Pupae matures in 3–28 days.

House Flies are a common pest that can be found in most environments. This pest is a major carriers of disease they feed on everything from food for human consumption to faeces. Without proper waste disposal and sanitation measures an infestation can happen rapidly.

Some diseases that House Flies are known to transmit are gastroenteritis, dysentery, typhoid, cholera and tuberculosis.

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