Houseflies

Characteristics

Single pair of membranous wings; hind wings modified as halters; sectorial mouthparts, piercing; large compound eyes; tarsi. 5 segmented; metamorphosis complete with egg, larval, pupal and adult stages.

Common houseflies are ubiquitous insects, with a flight range of at least 8 kilometers. They are highly active indoors. In colder climates breeding generally ceases before winter. In warm environments houseflies remain active and reproduce throughout the year.

Houseflies can transmit intestinal worms, or their eggs, and are potential vectors of diseases such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, typhoid, cholera and tuberculosis. They will frequent and feed indiscriminately on any liquefiable solid food, which may equally be moist, putrefying material or food stored for human consumption. The housefly tastes with its feet, which are 10 million times more sensitive to sugar than the human tounge.