Bug Identifier
House fly
Community identification

House fly

Musca domestica

Order & Family
Order: Diptera, Family: Muscidae
Size
6 to 8 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide in association with human habitations, farms, and areas with organic waste, garbage, or livestock.

Diet & Feeding

Liquid or liquefiable organic matter, including garbage, feces, decaying material, and human food, which they dissolve using saliva before ingesting.

Behavior Patterns

Highly active during daylight hours, known for rapid flight and frequent landing on surfaces. Females lay batches of eggs in decaying organic matter, which develop rapidly through larval (maggot) and pupal stages.

Risks & Benefits

Acts as a major vector for transmitting numerous pathogens and diseases to humans (such as typhoid, cholera, and dysentery) due to feeding on filth. However, they play a minor role in decomposition and serve as a food source for other animals.