The house fly, Musca domestica L. is a well-known cosmopolitan pest of both farm and home. This species is always found in association with humans or activities of humans. This is the most common species found on hog and poultry farms, horse stables, and ranches. Not only are they a nuisance, but they also can transport disease-causing organisms. Excessive fly populations are obnoxious to farm workers, and when there are nearby human habitations a public health problem is possible.
More than 100 pathogens associated with the house fly may cause disease in humans and animals, including typhoid, cholera, bacillary dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax ophthalmia and infantile diarrhea, as well as parasitic worms. Pathogenic organisms are picked up by flies from garbage, sewage and other sources of filth, and then transferred on their mouthparts and other body parts, through their vomitus, feces and contaminated external body parts to human and animal food.
Life Cycle and Description
The housefly has a complete metamorphosis with distinct egg, larva or maggot, pupal and adult stages. The house fly overwinters in either the larval or pupal stage under manure piles or in other protected locations. Warm summer conditions are generally optimum for the development of the house fly, and it can complete its life cycle in as little as seven to ten days, and as many as 10 to 12 generations may occur in one summer.
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