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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Calyptratae » Muscoidea » Muscidae » Muscinae » Muscini » Musca » Face Fly (Musca autumnalis)

Species Musca autumnalis - Face Fly

Flies mating - Musca autumnalis - male - female

Fly maybe Muscidae in a lek - Musca autumnalis

Musca autumnalis or domestica? - Musca autumnalis - male

Fly with orange abdomen - Musca autumnalis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Calyptratae)

Superfamily Muscoidea

Family Muscidae

Subfamily Muscinae

Tribe Muscini

Genus Musca

Species autumnalis (Face Fly)

Other Common Names

Autumn House Fly

Explanation of Names

Musca autumnalis De Geer 1776

Identification

similar to the housefly, especially the female, but eyes closer together and body more rounded; male has more orange on abdomen(1)

Range

Eurasia, parts of North Africa; introduced into North America ca. 1940s, now spread from so. Canada and temperate parts of the US

Habitat

larvae in cow dung pats; adults likes to sunbathe on walls and fences(1)

Food

Adult females feed on secretions from mucus membranes on cattle & horse faces, and on blood of wounds caused by horse fly & deer fly bites

Life Cycle

Usually 12-20 days depending on temperature(1); eggs and larvae develop in fresh (not crusted over) cattle dung; adults often overwinter in homes and other structures near pastures.

In the summer, these flies feed on cattle; adult males feed on nectar. Females need blood and glucose as long as their ovaries are undeveloped; gravid females do not feed at all.(2)

In fall, the ovaries of the last generation of flies fail to develop and both sexes feed only on nectar. Their bodies swell and abdomens distend and feeding stops.In the summer, these flies feed on cattle; adult males feed on nectar.(2)

In winter, fat is utilized and the bodies shrink.(2)

In spring, diapause is over and flies feed on nectar until cattle are put to pasture.(2)

Remarks

serious pest of cattle and horses; in summer, adults annoy the faces of cattle and horses, where they lap exudation from the eyes, nostrils and mouth

Internet References

Species profile(1)

Works Cited

1.	Bennett S.M. () The PiedPiper

2.	Insect Behavior Robert W. Matthews and Janice R. Matthews. 1988. Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co.

Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 24 December, 2005 - 8:20am
Additional contributions by v belov, Harsi S. Parker, Marci Hess
Last updated 12 October, 2023 - 12:03pm

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