House Fly (Musca domestica)
The house fly is known pest of both homes and farms. Not only are house flies a nuisance, but they can also transport disease-causing organisms. Excessive fly populations are not only an irritant to farm workers but, when there are nearby human habitations, a public health problem could occur. The pathogens commonly transmitted by house flies are Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Chlamydia, and many other species that cause illness. These flies are most commonly linked to outbreaks of diarrhea and shigellosis, but also are implicated in transmission of food poisoning, typhoid fever, dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmia, and parasitic worms.
General Biology
Adult flies usually live up to 20-25 days, but can live over a month. The house fly has a complete metamorphosis with distinct egg, larva or maggot, pupal and adult stages. Houseflies feed on feces, open sores, sputum, and moist decaying organic matter such as spoiled food, eggs and flesh. Houseflies can take in only liquid foods. They spit out saliva on solid foods to predigest it, and then suck it back in. They also regurgitate partly digested matter and pass it again to the abdomen.
Control
Sanitation, use of traps, and insecticides are common methods to control house flies. An integrated pest management program can be put in place for commercial and residential areas where house flies pose as a continual problem.