Housefly

Introduction

These flies receive the common name of house from being the most common fly found in and around homes, especially in the preautomobile era and in rural areas. It is not only a nuisance pest, but of greater concern is its potential as a carrier of disease organisms. It is worldwide in distribution, and is found throughout the United States.

Recognition

Adults are about 1/8-1/4 inch long, with female usually larger than male. Color dull gray; face with two velvety stripes, each silver about and gold below; thorax with four narrow black longitudinal stripes on dorsum; no pale spot behind head or on scutellum; abdomen usually with sides pale at least near base. Mouthparts sponging. Females with eyes much more widely separated than on males. Wing with fourth vein sharply bent forward near tip, towards and almost meeting third vein at wing margin.

Mature are larva about 1/4-3/8 inch long; eyeless, legless, and tapering toward head from large rounded rear segment, head represented by one pair of dark hooks. Color cream but with greasy appearance. Posterior spiracle area smooth, spiracular openings are sinuous/winding slits, which are completely surrounded by an oval black ridge, which has a dark donut-shaped structure attached to its inner margin.

Habits

Although houseflies have been shown to migrate up to 20 miles, most stay within one to two miles of their release point or larval habitat if sufficient food is available. Females seek almost any warm, moist material with sufficient food for larval development for egg-laying purposes.