Flies

Adult fly – 5 to 8 mm in length. Grey thorax with 4
narrow longitude stripes. Buff or yellow abdomen
and covered with small hairs.

Larvae – up to 12mm in length, white in colour
and taper to a point at the head end. There are 2
spiracle “spots” at the hind end.

House flies are major carriers of disease. They are known to transfer over 100 pathogens resulting in
ailments, including typhoid, tuberculosis, cholera and dysentery. House flies collect these pathogens on
their legs and mouths when feeding on feces, garbage and other decaying material.
Common houseflies flit about from place to place with a flight range of at least 8km (5 miles). They
are highly active indoors.

Biology:
Each female fly can lay up to 500 eggs in several batches of about 75 to 150 eggs, each over a three to
four day period in almost any warm, moist material that will supply suitable food for the larvae. In warm
weather, eggs hatch in 12 to 24 hours.