Table of Contents
How big is the average housefly?
Adult house flies are about 1/8-1/4” (4 to 7.5 mm) long. They have slightly hairy bodies, a single pair of wings and compound red eyes, which contain thousands of individual lenses that allow them to have wider vision. Female house flies are usually larger than males.
How long does the common house fly?
When it finally reaches its adult stage, the common housefly (or Musca domestica) tends to live for about two to three weeks, but can live up to a couple months. And if you consider the animal’s entire life cycle, the housefly lives for days even before sprouting wings.
How short is a fly lifespan?
15 to 30 days
The life expectancy of a housefly is generally 15 to 30 days and depends upon temperature and living conditions. Flies dwelling in warm homes and laboratories develop faster and live longer than their counterparts in the wild. The housefly’s brief life cycle allows them to multiply quickly if left uncontrolled.
Is it true that a fly only lives for 24 hours?
If you were to ask the average person how long they think a fly lives, more likely than not they will tell you they only live about 24 hours. House flies and other larger flies that usually infest a house can live for days, maybe even months. Mayflies, however, usually only have a 24 hour lifespan.
Where do flies go at night?
When night falls, most flies take refuge. They find a place to land and rest till the sun rises again. Sites to rest include, under leaves or grass, on branches, tree trunks, walls, curtains, corners, flat surfaces, bath stalls and so on. They really can sleep anywhere.
Do flies lay eggs every time they land?
So when the flies eat, the bacteria and viruses get all over them, and when they land on food it spreads right into our mouths. Despite all of the bacteria and potential infections lying in our food, we do have to be thankful for one thing — at least they’re not laying any eggs when they land.
Why do I have so many flies in my house all of a sudden?
The most common reason for flies swarming all over your house is an infestation inside or nearby your home. If you suddenly see a swarm of flies that means dozens of eggs have already hatched and developed into flies. The source is likely inside your house, garage, attic or garden.
Do flies feel pain?
The flies, they found, receive pain messages via sensory neurons in their ventral nerve cord, the insect equivalent of a spinal cord. Along this nerve cord are inhibitory neurons that act as gatekeepers, allowing pain signals through or blocking them based on context.
Does a fly poop every time it lands?
Because house flies live on a liquid diet (see #6), things move rather quickly through their digestive tracts. Nearly every time a house fly lands, it defecates. So in addition to vomiting on anything it thinks might make a tasty meal, the house fly almost always does poop where it eats.
Why do flies rub their hands?
Rubbing Behavior One of the hallmarks of fly behavior is “hand” rubbing. Flies rub their limbs together to clean them. This may seem counterintuitive given these insects’ seemingly insatiable lust for filth and grime, but grooming is actually one of their primary activities.
Do flies have a purpose?
Despite their dowdy appearance, flies play a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance in our surroundings. No wonder they are aptly known as nature’s clean-up crew. From rotting carcasses to fecal matter, flies and their larva help break down decomposing organic matter into its basic blocks.
Are flies good for anything?
Flies quite literally eat poo but they also clean up other waste too, helping clean-up after us humans. They can eat our household waste and divert it from going into landfill. Flies act as scavengers consuming rotting organic matter so we don’t have to deal with it which is a very important role in the environment.
How long do house flies live inside?
House flies and other larger flies that usually infest a house can live for days, maybe even months. Mayflies, however, usually only have a 24 hour lifespan. Flies can contaminate food and cause other problems.
What is the lifespan of a house fly?
The average lifespan of a housefly is about 28 days, so 4 weeks. There are many different species of fly with lifespans ranging from just a few days to almost two months. By far though, the most commonly encountered fly is the common housefly, Musca domestica .
How does a house fly reproduce?
Common house flies can reproduce at astounding speeds under the right conditions. Flies undergo a complete metamorphosis in which they change from an egg into a larvae (known as maggots) then into a pupae, and finally into an adult. The transition for a fly from an egg into an adult is made very quickly.
What do house fly eggs look like?
House fly eggs look like small grains of rice. Eggs hatch within 24 hours, and house fly larvae emerge. House fly larvae, or maggots, appear similar to pale worms.