Common House Fly (Musca domestica)

Habitat

Very common worldwide often in association with human activity.  Adults active fliers, highly mobile and capable of travelling several miles.  Breed usually in rotting vegetable matter or animal faeces.

Biology

Egg-larva-pupa-adult

Eggs – whitish, 1 mm, several batches of up to 150 on rotting materials or animal faeces.  Hatch 8 hours to 2 days.

Larvae – legless maggots up to 12 mm long in groups on semi-liquid food.  3 moults, usually develop in 1-2 weeks (range 5 days to 1 month or more) Move away from food when fully developed.

Pupae – inside reddish ovoid puparia in soil or dry area. Develop in 1-2 weeks.

Adults – 6 mm, greyish with pale stripes on thorax, pale yellow underside of abdomen.  Wings spread slightly when at rest.  Large red eyes, acute sense of smell.

The House Fly is distributed worldwide, although fairly distinct races have been described from the tropics and the temperate zones, which are capable of inter-breeding but exhibit some individual behavioural characteristics.  The House Fly is found wherever suitable breeding conditions exist, usually rotting, fermenting or at least moist organic matter, preferably of a high protein content.  House flies are frequently found in association with man either indoors or taking advantage of other human activities.

Importance

Disease transmission, spoilage of food, nuisance.  May be severe problem in animal units and sometimes refuse tips.

Lesser House Fly (Fannia canicularis)

 This species is slightly smaller than the Common House Fly with only three less distinct longitudinal stripes on the grey thorax and the yellow basal patches on the abdomen which is otherwise darker grey or black.  Most of the biological details of the former species apply broadly to the Lesser House Fly.  Differences include the banana-shape of the eggs and the very distinctive larval shape, where each segment has a number of slightly flattened fleshy extensions.  The wings do not have the sharply bent wing vein found in Musca domestica.

How can I control a fly problem?

UPC has a range of techniques available in dealing with flying insect pests. In addition to residual treatments we have fly control units and insect screens available dependent on the extent of the problem. All of our fly control units are of the highest quality and are manufactured only in the UK. Our expertise has enabled us to recommend the very best fly control units, based on our many years of experience in dealing with every flying insect pest found in the U.K.

 Please call 01923 634564  or e-mail info@sabrepestcontrol.co.uk for further assistance.