Explanation of Names
Author is
Linnaeus, 1758.
From Latin
musca, meaning "a fly"
(1). The Latin word is related, linguistically, to English
midge--see discussion under
Chironomidae.
Numbers
3 species in North America (
nearctica.com)
Identification
Adult: M. autumnalis: female eyes far apart, separated by black median stripe (with straight sides) that occupies about one-third of distance between eyes; male eyes nearly touch at midline; female thorax grayish, and abdomen gray on top with some yellow on sides; male thorax dark blue-gray, and abdomen orange with black dorsal stripe
M. cadaverum: no info available on web
M. domestica: female eyes far apart, separated by ovoid frontal stripe; male eyes close together but separated by narrow frontal stripe
Larva (maggot): yellowish-white cylindrical body
Habitat
adults of M. autumnalis cluster on face of cattle and horses (around eyes, nose, mouth)
M. domestica is found around homes, poultry & dairy farms, stables, garbage dumps, and other sources of rotting plant or animal matter
Food
adult females of M. autumnalis feed on secretions from mucus membranes on face of cattle & horses, and on blood of wounds caused by horse fly & deer fly bites
adult M. domestica feed on fresh and fermenting/rotting food, and garbage; adults have sucking/sponging mouthparts for ingesting liquid food only; solid materials are liquified by means of regurgitated saliva
Life Cycle
The House Fly overwinters in the larval or pupal stage under manure piles or in other protected locations. During summer, the life cycle can be completed in 7 to 10 days, and up to 12 generations may occur in one summer. Eggs are laid singly but pile up in small masses. Each female fly can lay up to 500 eggs in several batches of 75-150 eggs, each over a 3 to 4 day period. The larvae (maggots) emerge within 8 to 20 hours, and immediately feed on the material where the eggs were laid, developing through 3 instars. Full-grown larvae crawl up to 15 metres to a dried cool place near breeding material, and transform into the pupal stage. Adults usually live 15 to 25 days.
[adapted from text on U. of Florida "Featured Creatures" page]
Internet References
House Fly (Musca domestica) photos of all life stages plus distribution, description, biology, damage, control, references (U. of Florida "Featured Creatures")
Face Fly (Musca autumnalis) photos and distribution, description, damage, control, references (Govt. of Saskatchewan)
adult images of
M. autumnalis (Malcolm Storey, BioImages, UK)
pinned adult image of
M. autumnalis (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)
adult image of female
M. domestica (U. of Pennsylvania)
adult illustration of
M. domestica and transmitted diseases (Montana State U.)
adult image of female
M. domestica (U. of Nebraska)
