Housefly
Housefly
The Housefly (Musca domestica) is a fly of the suborder Cyclorrhapha. It is the most common fly species found in houses.
Pronunciation
Housefly is pronounced as /ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ/.
Etymology
The term "housefly" comes from the Old English hūsflyge. The species name, domestica, derives from the Latin domus meaning house.
Description
Adult houseflies are usually 6 to 7 mm long with a wingspan of 13 to 15 mm. The females are slightly larger than the males, and have a much larger space between their red compound eyes. The thorax is gray or sometimes even black, with four longitudinal dark lines on the back. The whole body is covered with hair-like projections.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of a housefly consists of four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The eggs are white and are about 1.2 mm in length. Within a day, larvae (maggots) hatch from the eggs; they live and feed in (usually dead and decaying) organic material, such as garbage or feces.
Habitat
Houseflies are found almost everywhere people live. They feed on a wide variety of substances, including human food, animal carcasses, and garbage. They are a common pest around the world.
Health Risks
Houseflies are capable of carrying over 100 pathogens, such as those causing typhoid, cholera, salmonellosis, bacillary dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, oculomycosis, and parasitic worms. They collect these pathogens on their legs and mouths when feeding on feces, trash, and other decaying material.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Housefly
- Wikipedia's article - Housefly
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