Housefly
Musca domestica
Quick answer
The housefly is one of the most common and widespread insects, living almost everywhere humans do. It feeds on a wide range of liquid and decaying matter, tasting with its feet and feeding through a sponge-like mouthpart. Houseflies breed quickly in waste and can spread disease by carrying germs on their bodies, and adults usually live only a few weeks.
Housefly facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Musca domestica |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore (liquid and decaying matter) |
| Habitat | Almost everywhere humans live |
| Lifespan | Adults about 2–4 weeks |
| Length | 6–7 mm (about 0.25 in) |
| Top speed | Up to ~8 km/h (5 mph) in flight |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Diptera |
| Family | Muscidae |
| Genus | Musca |
Where it lives
Everywhere humans live, on every continent except Antarctica.
Body and senses
Houseflies have large compound eyes that give them a wide field of view and quick reactions, helping them avoid being swatted. They taste with sensors on their feet and feed using a soft, sponge-like mouthpart that soaks up liquids. Their fast, agile flight and ability to land upside down on ceilings come from specialized wings and sticky footpads.
Diet and feeding
Houseflies feed on a wide variety of substances, especially decaying organic matter, food waste, and sugary liquids. Because they cannot chew, they release saliva onto solid food to dissolve it, then suck up the liquid. This feeding habit, combined with their attraction to waste, is why they can transfer germs to human food.
Rapid life cycle
Houseflies reproduce extremely quickly, laying batches of eggs in moist decaying material such as garbage or manure. The eggs hatch into pale larvae called maggots, which feed and grow before pupating and emerging as adults within a week or two in warm conditions. This rapid cycle allows populations to build very fast.
Houseflies and health
Because they move between waste and human food, houseflies can carry bacteria and other pathogens on their bodies and mouthparts, making them potential spreaders of disease. Good sanitation, covering food, and managing waste are the most effective ways to reduce their numbers. Despite this, houseflies also help break down decaying matter in the environment.
Frequently asked questions about the Housefly
What do houseflies eat?
Houseflies feed on a wide range of liquid and decaying matter, including food waste and sugary liquids. They cannot chew, so they dissolve solid food with saliva and then suck up the liquid.
How long do houseflies live?
Adult houseflies usually live about two to four weeks. In that short time they can reproduce rapidly, which is why their populations build up so quickly.
Do houseflies spread disease?
Yes. Because they move between waste and human food, houseflies can carry bacteria and other germs on their bodies, making them potential spreaders of disease. Good hygiene helps reduce this risk.
Why are houseflies so hard to swat?
Houseflies have large compound eyes and fast reactions that let them detect a threat and take off in a fraction of a second. They also tend to launch backward, away from an approaching hand.
Why do houseflies taste with their feet?
Houseflies have taste sensors on their feet, so they can detect food simply by landing on it. This lets them quickly judge whether a surface is worth feeding on.
Where do houseflies come from?
Houseflies lay eggs in moist decaying material such as garbage and manure, where the larvae, or maggots, develop. In warm conditions they can complete their life cycle in as little as one to two weeks.
