Behavior and Biology
Fly Control
The common house fly (Musca domestica) multiplies rapidly and is one of the most prevalent of all insect pests. It has been associated with over 100 different disease pathogens, including salmonella, cholera, and tuberculosis, so it is important to manage pest outbreaks. They leave fecal spots, or “specks,” where they have walked, and in this way may transfer disease organisms to humans and animals. In rural areas, flies can be a nuisance when they gather on the outside walls of homes and buildings on summer evenings.
Because houseflies can carry many diseases to humans and domestic animals, it is important to keep their populations low. Understanding their habits and life cycle can help you eliminate the most flies at the lowest cost to you and the environment.
Facts
- Female house fly can lay over 2,000 eggs in just one month and the flies only take 10 days to fully develop once hatched
- flies can only live for about 30 to 50 days before they die if they are not provided with food source
- Unlike other insects that have two pairs of wings, house fly has only one pair of membranous wings
- Much like humans they are very busy during the day and become inactive at night, particularly when it’s sunny and warm.
- They have thousands of tiny lenses, called ommatidia, which make up the eyes or vision of a fly. These compound eyes allow flies to see 360 degrees at once
Diseases/Threats
- Houseflies are known to carry serious and life-threatening diseases
- Few diseases caused by flies are, Cholera, Conjunctivitis, Dysentery, Gastroenteritis, Tuberculosis, Typhoid fever
- Houseflies can transmit or spread the disease to humans in Feeding and Breeding Habits
- Flies contaminate cooking utensils, cutlery, and eating utensils
- Direct contact by touching an infected product then touching your eyes or open wounds such as scratches and sores