
Community identification
House fly
Musca domestica
- Order & Family
- Order: Diptera, Family: Muscidae
- Size
- 6 to 8 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Human habitations, agricultural areas, urban and rural environments globally
Diet & Feeding
Liquid or semi-liquid organic matter, including food scraps, garbage, feces, and decaying matter
Behavior Patterns
Active during daylight hours, resting on walls or ceilings at night; rapid reproduction cycle with larvae developing in moist organic refuse
Risks & Benefits
Risks include acting as a mechanical vector for numerous pathogens and diseases; benefits include aiding in the decomposition of organic waste