Control of House Flies is Very Important

House flies are cosmopolitan in distribution, found throughout the world. They are very common in the villages and the towns where human population and dirty places are available. Many species of house flies are known but the most popular ones are Musca domestica, Musca nebulo and Musca corvina. They belong to the order Diptera and family Muscidae. House flies are diurnal insects easily available during the day time. They prefer to feed on the human excreta and other dead and decaying organic debris. They are classified as detritivorous insects. They do not harm humans but their presence makes the consciousness of a person to burst into anger.

Adults are 5-8 mm in length. Body is dark grey in colour with four longitudinal lines on thorax and one black streak is present on the abdomen. Mouth parts are adapted for sponging and are provided with fleshy retractile proboscis used for sponging liquid food from exposed moist surfaces. Antennae are three segmented and are of aristate type. Head bears a pair of compound eyes adapted for mosaic vision and three ocelli are present. Only one pair of wings is present called as the forewings while the hind wings are modified into stubbed halteres. Legs are provided with the gustatory receptors. Abdomen is 8-segmented in male and 9-segmented in female. In female the last four abdominal segments form the ovipositor.

Breeding in house flies occurs in spring and summer. Female after copulation lays 2-21 egg masses in any sort of animal excrement or decaying matter such as organic manure, cow dung, human excreta, decomposing fruits and vegetables. Eggs are deposited in clusters about 12 mm deep from the surface of organic debris where they can get proper dark and humid conditions. Each egg mass may contain 100-130 eggs which hatch within 24 hours. Eggs are pearly white, elongate and about 1mm in length. Eggs hatch into tiny larvae known as maggots. Maggots are tapered anteriorly and are creamy white in colour. When full grown they are 12 mm long. Maggots can be isolated from the rotten food and other fermenting vegetable matter and manure. Maggots prefer to feed on dead and decaying organic matter for a period of 3-7 days and then move to the surface of the food to pupate. They moult twice before entering into pupation. Puparia are short in comparison to the larvae and are more robust. They are dark brown in colour and measure 6 mm in length. The pupal period varies from 3-7 days after which the adults emerge out. Whole life cycle is completed in 10-12 days in summer but is prolonged in winter months.