{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "housefly",
  "name": "Housefly",
  "scientificName": "Musca domestica",
  "category": "Insect",
  "summary": "The housefly (Musca domestica) is a small grey fly, about 6 to 7 mm long, found almost everywhere people live. It feeds by sponging up liquids and decaying matter, flies at up to around 8 km/h (5 mph), and completes its entire life cycle from egg to adult in a week or two. Adults live only about two to four weeks and the species is of Least Concern.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Arthropoda",
    "class": "Insecta",
    "order": "Diptera",
    "family": "Muscidae",
    "genus": "Musca"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.00002,
    "lengthM": 0.007,
    "topSpeedKmh": 8,
    "lifespanYears": 1
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Musca domestica"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore (liquid and decaying matter)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Almost everywhere humans live"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Adults about 2–4 weeks"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "6–7 mm (about 0.25 in)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to ~8 km/h (5 mph) in flight"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Everywhere humans live, on every continent except Antarctica.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "South America",
      "Oceania"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Musca domestica.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Musca%20domestica&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Musca domestica. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Musca_domestica/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Housefly.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housefly"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/housefly/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/housefly/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}