House flies

Life-Cycle

Common houseflies can be 6-8mm long with a grey thorax and 4 longitudinal stripes along this. This is probably the most familiar of all insects and has adapted itself to feeding on rejected food and excrements of animals.

Eggs can be laid on any vegetable or animal matter providing it is not too dry and can hatch between 8 hours to 3 days.  The larva is white and legless turning to a waxy ivory yellow in colour and more commonly known as the maggot.  Pupation follows usually taking place in the soil and this period will vary from 3 to 28 days depending on the temperature.  Adult Flies can exist in broods from June but are more numerous in August and September. 

Houseflies can transmit diseases when feeding on liquefiable solid food, which may be moist, putrefying material or food stored for human consumption.  Flies liquefy food by regurgitating digestive juices and their stomach contents onto the food substance.  However flies may also carry disease on their bodies and transfer these when in contact with other surfaces.

Treatment / Prevention

Insecticides that are obtainable for the general public can be used but should be integrated with good hygiene measures.

To prevent the spread of disease do not leave food uncovered and out on surfaces.