House fly, Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae) is globally distributed due to their synathropic (association with humans) nature. Adults are 0.3 cm in length and are gray in color. They have a complete life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) and live one to two weeks. Development from egg to adult takes one week or so depending on environmental conditions. Adults are viewed as a pest by most due to their nuisance nature and ability to serve as a vector for a number of pathogens of human importance. However, their ability to digest organic matter, ranging from poultry to swine manure, as well as high protein and lipid content, makes they an ideal candidate for mass production and use as animal feed.
Classification
Musca domestica
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Arthropoda |
Class | Insecta |
Order | Diptera |
Family | Muscidae |
Genus | Musca |
Species | M. domestica |
Author citation | Linnaeus, 1758 |
Common names | |
house fly, house-fly, common housefly |