Numbers
2 spp. in our area (both adventive), dozens in the Old World
(2)Size
adult 5‒10 mm, larva up to 12 mm
Identification
Adult:
M. autumnalis: female eyes separated by black median stripe with straight sides that occupies ~⅓ of distance between eyes; male eyes nearly touch; female thorax grayish, abdomen gray on top with some yellow on sides; male thorax dark blue-gray, abdomen orange with black dorsal stripe
M. domestica: female eyes separated by ovoid frontal stripe; male eyes close together but separated by narrow frontal stripe
Range
Old World genus (now cosmopolitan), most spp. tropical
(2)Remarks
Due to their habit of feeding on foul substances and human food, several species spread bacterial disease
Print References
Sabrosky C.W. (1959) Recognition of species of
Musca. Cooperative Economic Insect Report 9: 988. (
Full text)