2 pp.Houseflies can be a particular problem after a disaster, because they lay eggs and develop on rotting organic matter. This publication explains how to suppress housefly populations around homes and businesses

Tomberlin, Jeffery K.

Texas A&M University

ER-025 
6-06
Jeffery K. Tomberlin, Extension Entomology Specialist
The Texas A&M University System
The housefly, Musca domestica, is found worldwide and lives in close 
proximity to humans. Because houseflies can carry many diseases of hu-
mans and domestic animals, it is important to keep their populations low. 
Understanding their habits and life cycle can help you eliminate the most 
flies at the lowest cost to you and the environment.
Description
The housefly is a non-biting fly measuring about 1⁄4 inch long. Adult house-
flies have two wings and four lengthwise black stripes on their backs. The 
abdomen typically appears checkered. 
Houseflies are often confused with flesh flies and stable flies. A flesh fly 
has only three stripes on its back, and the tip of its abdomen is usually red. 
The stable fly feeds on blood, and its mouthparts protrude from the front 
of its head.
Life Cycle
Houseflies live for up to 3 weeks and are active during the warmer part of 
the year. An adult female deposits 50 to 100 eggs at a time and about 500 
eggs over her lifetime. The eggs are deposited in rotting organic matter. 
They hatch after about 12 hours; and the larvae, or maggots, feed on the 
rotting organic material. 
A maggot passes through three larval stages and then forms a pupa, or co-
coon. The adult fly emerges from the cocoon. Houseflies typically develop 
from an egg to adult within 10 days. They can be suppressed by these 
three types of control methods: cultural, biological and chemical. It is best 
to use all three methods.  
Cultural Control
This method changes the environment to prevent houseflies from devel-
oping. The best cultural method is to dispose of any organic matter prop-
erly. This includes vegetable or other food by-products, where houseflies 
might lay eggs. Place these materials in garbage bags and tie the bags se-
curely. Remove all food residues and clean your garbage cans weekly. 
Controlling Houseflies 
Another cultural method is to keep houseflies 
out of homes and businesses by the following 
practices:
• keeping windows screened and doors closed
•	placing exhaust (blower) systems above doors 
•	 installing doors that open and close 
mechanically 
Placing sticky traps and ultraviolet light traps 
around a home or business also can reduce 
housefly populations. Hang resin strips (flypa-
per) in infested areas where there is little or no 
air movement. You place one 10-inch strip per 
1,000 cubic feet of space. Install the fly strips 
within 6 feet of the floor because most fly activ-
ity is near the ground. The strips are effective for 
up to about 3 months or until completely covered 
with flies. 
Install light traps where they cannot be seen by 
flies outdoors to avoid attracting more insects 
to the building. To make the traps more notice-
able to the flies in a room, place them at least 15 
feet away from doors and other entryways and 
in darker areas away from bright lights and sun-
light. Place the traps at least 5 feet away from 
food preparation areas to minimize the risk of 
food contamination. It is important to maintain 
the traps. Replace the bulbs each spring just be-
fore the peak season of fly activity because older 
bulbs lose their attractiveness to insects. Also, 
clean them out regularly because dead flies serve 
as food for other insects. 
Biological Control
Parasitic wasps and fire ants suppress house-
fly populations naturally. If you want to use this 
form of natural pest control, you can order fly 
pupae from insectaries in Texas or across the 
United States.  The pupae, which are already in-
fected with the parasites, can be spread around 
homes or near where houseflies are developing. 
Place the pupae in areas out of direct sunlight to 
prevent anyone from stepping on them.
Parasitic wasps do not harm people or animals. 
They kill immature houseflies. However, para-
sitic wasps take time to work, and they alone will 
not eliminate a housefly population. Combine 
this technique with other methods.
Chemical Control
When necessary, insecticides can help suppress 
housefly populations. Fly baits, such as Quick-
Bayt® and Golden Malrin®, are usually sugar-
based and contain a compound that attracts the 
adult flies. Flies that feed on these baits are killed 
by the insecticide they digest. 
Many spray pyrethroid-based insecticides can 
suppress houseflies in and around homes. You 
can buy these products at grocery and hardware 
stores. Follow the instructions on all insecticide 
labels.
The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made
with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service is implied.
Produced by AgriLife Communications and Marketing, The Texas A&M System
Extension publications can be found on the Web at: http://AgriLifebookstore.org
Visit the Texas AgriLife Extension Service at http://AgriLifeextension.tamu.edu
Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914, in 
cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Edward G. Smith, Director, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, The Texas A&M System.


English

Controlling Houseflies

OAKTrust Digital Repository (Texas A&M Univ)

ER-025 6-06Jeffery K. Tomberlin, Extension Entomology SpecialistThe Texas A&M University SystemThe housefly, Musca domestica, is found worldwide and lives in close proximity to humans. Because houseflies can carry many diseases of hu-mans and domestic animals, it is important to keep their populations low. Understanding their habits and life cycle can help you eliminate the most flies at the lowest cost to you and the environment.DescriptionThe housefly is a non-biting fly measuring about 1⁄4 inch long. Adult house-flies have two wings and four lengthwise black stripes on their backs. The abdomen typically appears checkered. Houseflies are often confused with flesh flies and stable flies. A flesh fly has only three stripes on its back, and the tip of its abdomen is usually red. The stable fly feeds on blood, and its mouthparts protrude from the front of its head.Life CycleHouseflies live for up to 3 weeks and are active during the warmer part of the year. An adult female deposits 50 to 100 eggs at a time and about 500 eggs over her lifetime. The eggs are deposited in rotting organic matter. They hatch after about 12 hours; and the larvae, or maggots, feed on the rotting organic material. A maggot passes through three larval stages and then forms a pupa, or co-coon. The adult fly emerges from the cocoon. Houseflies typically develop from an egg to adult within 10 days. They can be suppressed by these three types of control methods: cultural, biological and chemical. It is best to use all three methods.  Cultural ControlThis method changes the environment to prevent houseflies from devel-oping. The best cultural method is to dispose of any organic matter prop-erly. This includes vegetable or other food by-products, where houseflies might lay eggs. Place these materials in garbage bags and tie the bags se-curely. Remove all food residues and clean your garbage cans weekly. Controlling Houseflies Another cultural method is to keep houseflies out of homes and businesses by the following practices:• keeping windows screened and doors closed•	placing exhaust (blower) systems above doors •	 installing doors that open and close mechanically Placing sticky traps and ultraviolet light traps around a home or business also can reduce housefly populations. Hang resin strips (flypa-per) in infested areas where there is little or no air movement. You place one 10-inch strip per 1,000 cubic feet of space. Install the fly strips within 6 feet of the floor because most fly activ-ity is near the ground. The strips are effective for up to about 3 months or until completely covered with flies. Install light traps where they cannot be seen by flies outdoors to avoid attracting more insects to the building. To make the traps more notice-able to the flies in a room, place them at least 15 feet away from doors and other entryways and in darker areas away from bright lights and sun-light. Place the traps at least 5 feet away from food preparation areas to minimize the risk of food contamination. It is important to maintain the traps. Replace the bulbs each spring just be-fore the peak season of fly activity because older bulbs lose their attractiveness to insects. Also, clean them out regularly because dead flies serve as food for other insects. Biological ControlParasitic wasps and fire ants suppress house-fly populations naturally. If you want to use this form of natural pest control, you can order fly pupae from insectaries in Texas or across the United States.  The pupae, which are already in-fected with the parasites, can be spread around homes or near where houseflies are developing. Place the pupae in areas out of direct sunlight to prevent anyone from stepping on them.Parasitic wasps do not harm people or animals. They kill immature houseflies. However, para-sitic wasps take time to work, and they alone will not eliminate a housefly population. Combine this technique with other methods.Chemical ControlWhen necessary, insecticides can help suppress housefly populations. Fly baits, such as Quick-Bayt® and Golden Malrin®, are usually sugar-based and contain a compound that attracts the adult flies. Flies that feed on these baits are killed by the insecticide they digest. Many spray pyrethroid-based insecticides can suppress houseflies in and around homes. You can buy these products at grocery and hardware stores. Follow the instructions on all insecticide labels.The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is madewith the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service is implied.Produced by AgriLife Communications and Marketing, The Texas A&M SystemExtension publications can be found on the Web at: http://AgriLifebookstore.orgVisit the Texas AgriLife Extension Service at http://AgriLifeextension.tamu.eduEducational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Edward G. Smith, Director, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, The Texas A&M System.

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Controlling Houseflies

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