Insect · GBIF taxon 1524843
Common House Fly
Musca domesticaAlso known as Housefly, European House Fly
Common house flies are highly adaptable synanthropic insects recognized by four dark thoracic stripes and red compound eyes. Females lay hundreds of eggs in warm organic waste, where larvae develop rapidly before emerging as mobile adults. Using specialized sponging mouthparts, adults continuously liquefy food sources by regurgitating digestive fluids before feeding.
InsectSynanthropicCosmopolitan
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Decaying organic matter
- Sugary liquids
- Manure
Predators
- Spiders
- Jumping Spiders
- Frogs
ThreatsSanitation practices, insecticides, insect traps, and natural predators
HabitatsUrban, suburban, agricultural, and indoor environments worldwide
Life span15 to 30 days
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderDiptera
- FamilyMuscidae
- GenusMusca
- SpeciesMusca domestica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Carries harmful bacteria and pathogens; keep food covered and maintain clean living areas.
- Why it is dangerous
- Transmits bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli by landing on food after visiting waste.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for four longitudinal dark stripes across a gray thorax paired with wide red compound eyes.
- What to do
- Avoid physical contact with flies and cover all exposed human food.
Responsible observation
- Food hygiene: Store fresh produce and scraps in sealed containers to avoid attracting flies.
- Indoor management: Use window screens and sticky traps rather than chemical sprays near dining spaces.
Ecological Competitor (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Fyn Kynd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Fyn Kynd · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Steve Kerr, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Kerr · cc-by
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