Housefly

Musca domestica

The Housefly is a common insect that buzzes around homes and gardens. They are usually grey and have big eyes!

Habitat: Homes, farms, and gardens

Appearance

The Housefly has a grey body with four dark stripes on its thorax, and large, reddish-brown compound eyes. Its abdomen is often mottled, and it possesses clear wings. This common fly is distinguished by these prominent thoracic stripes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilyMuscidaeGenusMusca

Housefly

Interesting facts

Adult houseflies only live for about 15 to 30 days, a very short lifespan!

Houseflies 'vomit' on food to digest it outside their body!

Houseflies can lay hundreds of eggs at once in decaying food or waste!

Their wings beat over 200 times per second, making that buzzing sound!

Special abilities

Housefly can walk upside down because of tiny claws and sticky pads on its feet, helping them cling to surfaces.

Housefly has huge compound eyes that help them detect movement quickly, allowing them to dodge swatting hands.

Housefly can perform incredible mid-air turns because of specialized wing muscles and tiny balancing halteres.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 13-15 mm
Size: 6-7 mm
Lifespan: 15-30 days
Flight Speed: 8 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

They love to slurp up sugary liquids and decaying stuff!

Primary Foods

decaying organic matter
sugary liquids
feces
rotting fruit
spilled food

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

hunts

Common Green Darner

Anax junius

Dragonflies are expert aerial predators of many flying insects.

parasitizes

Parasitic wasp

Spalangia cameroni

Tiny wasps lay their eggs inside housefly pupae.

eaten by

Wall spider

Oecobius annulipes

Many spiders build webs to catch houseflies.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Scavenger

Meet nature's clean-up crew! These important animals help keep the environment tidy by eating what other animals have left behind or things that have passed away.

Web Builder

Witness the incredible artistry of creatures that weave intricate, silken structures right before your eyes. They create amazing traps and homes using their own unique silk.