Lyla Lindsey
Australia is home to about 10,000 species of flies, with only a small number considered pests. The most common nuisance flies are House Flies and Bush Flies, which are attracted to human homes and gardens. House flies, in particular, are considered filth flies due to their association with manures and household waste. They breed in moist, decaying organic matter and can transmit human and animal diseases and food contaminants. Fruit flies are another common species, breeding in drains, bathrooms, and rotting fruit and vegetables.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of fly species in Australia | 10,000 |
| Number of fly species considered pests | Very few |
| Worst horticultural pest | Fruit Fly |
| Most common families of "nuisance flies" | Muscidae (House Flies and Bush Flies) and Calliphoridae (Blow Flies) |
| Other common fly species | Biting Midges, Fungus Gnats, Stable Flies |
| House Fly life cycle stages | Egg, larva, pupa, adult |
| Number of eggs female House Fly lays in her lifetime | 500 |
| Time for fly to develop to adult | 7–30 days |
| Adult fly lifespan | 2–9 weeks |
| Adult fly length | 5–8mm |
| Adult fly colour | Grey thorax with 3–4 stripes, light grey or yellow abdomen with dark patches |
| Larva appearance | White, legless, 12mm in length when mature |
| Adult fly diet | Human and animal food, faeces, secretions from eyes, nose and mouth of animals |
| House Fly breeding locations | Drains, garbage bins, compost bins, manure heaps, moist cattle manure, feed waste, unclean utensils |
| Stable Fly breeding locations | Moist, decaying organic matter such as manure mixed with straw, silage, crop residue, hay, grain |
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What You'll Learn
- House flies breed in moist, decaying organic matter, like manure, and household waste
- Fruit flies breed in rotten fruit, vegetables, and unclean drains
- Stable flies breed in moist, decaying organic matter, like manure and soiled animal bedding
- Biting midges breed in the sandy edges of rivers and estuaries
- Blow flies breed in decaying carcasses
House flies breed in moist, decaying organic matter, like manure, and household waste
House flies are a common pest in Australia, and they can breed in a variety of environments, including homes and gardens. They are attracted to decaying organic matter, such as manure and household waste, in which they lay their eggs. The female house fly can lay up to 500 eggs, which hatch into larvae in a matter of days.
House flies are particularly drawn to moist environments with decaying organic matter, as this provides an ideal habitat for their larvae to develop. The larvae, also known as maggots, are legless, round in shape, and tapered at the front with a blunt hind end. They are cream to yellowish in colour and feed on bacteria and yeast found in rotting organic matter.
Manure, in particular, provides an excellent breeding ground for house flies. The larvae thrive in the manure of animals fed a mixed diet, such as swine, poultry, and calves. This is because the manure of these animals tends to be more nutrient-rich, promoting the growth and development of the larvae. Additionally, piles of manure can be a significant source of house flies, especially in urban areas.
Household waste, such as garbage cans and compost piles, can also attract house flies for breeding. Food residues in garbage cans, unrefrigerated overripe fruit, and rotting vegetables are all enticing to house flies. Poorly maintained compost bins or piles can also produce many flies. Furthermore, drains, cleaning utensils, and unclean surfaces in homes can provide breeding sites for house flies.
To prevent house fly infestations, it is essential to maintain proper sanitation and waste management practices. This includes regularly cleaning and disposing of waste, using sealed compost bins, and ensuring that drains and surfaces are clean and free of organic residue. By denying house flies their preferred breeding grounds, you can effectively reduce their populations and minimise the associated health risks they pose.
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Fruit flies breed in rotten fruit, vegetables, and unclean drains
Australia is home to about 10,000 species of flies, but only a tiny minority of these are considered pests. One of the worst horticultural pests in Australia is the fruit fly. Fruit flies are attracted to ripened and fermenting fruits and vegetables, as well as drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash bags, cleaning rags, and mops. Essentially, they are drawn to food waste and moist environments.
Fruit flies breed in rotten fruit and vegetables, drains, and cleaning utensils. They are attracted to decaying wastes, excrement, and human foods, making them a threat to human health. Female fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time, primarily in fermenting or decaying, sweet, organic material, including fruits and vegetables. Fruit flies can also lay their eggs in canned fruits and vegetables, so it is important to ensure that the containers are well sealed.
Fruit flies can enter homes through open doors and windows, or via eggs laid inside a piece of produce from the grocery store. They can also come in through cracks in walls and loose seals around doors or windows. Once inside, they can breed in drains, garbage disposals, and cleaning utensils. Fruit flies are particularly attracted to over-ripe or damaged fruit and vegetables, so it is important to keep produce sealed in airtight containers and store it in the refrigerator. Any subsequently purchased fruit or vegetables should be refrigerated until the fruit fly infestation is gone.
To prevent a fruit fly infestation, it is important to remove sources of attraction. Keep drains and garbage disposals clean and dry, and regularly dispose of trash. Fruit flies can be controlled by taking out the trash, removing unrefrigerated, overripe fruit, or rotting vegetables, and locating and eliminating other breeding sites. Using traps or sprays may provide temporary relief from fruit flies, but eliminating the breeding site is essential for complete control.
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Stable flies breed in moist, decaying organic matter, like manure and soiled animal bedding
Stable flies are a type of fly that breeds in moist, decaying organic matter. They are a pest species in Australia, and are known to bite humans, but they are more of a problem for domestic animals and livestock. Both male and female stable flies feed on blood, unlike most fly species, where only the females feed on blood.
Stable flies breed in moist, decaying organic matter, such as manure mixed with straw, silage, crop residue, hay, grain, and soiled animal bedding. They can also breed in grass clippings and seaweed along beaches, and in wet areas around the edges of haystacks and silage pits. In cattle feedlots, stable fly larvae can be found at the edges of the feeding area where hay has become mixed with urine and faeces.
To prevent stable flies from breeding, it is important to keep areas where manure, straw, or other decaying matter can accumulate clean. Stable flies develop in moist, decaying organic matter, so keeping these areas clean will reduce the number of potential development sites. Stable flies can also breed indoors, in unclean drains and on cleaning utensils, so it is important to maintain good sanitation practices.
In addition to sanitation, chemical control methods can also be used to manage stable fly populations. Various insecticides can be sprayed where flies may be resting, such as in barns or on fence rows. A combination of two compounds, imidacloprid and permethrin, can be used to repel stable flies and prevent them from feeding on blood. However, this product does not kill the flies.
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Biting midges breed in the sandy edges of rivers and estuaries
Biting midges, or "no-see-ums", are tiny flies that are found throughout Australia. They are small—only 1-2mm long—and difficult to see. They breed in natural coastal habitats, and their peak breeding season is between spring and autumn. Biting midge larvae can be found in the mud and wet soils of tidal zones, particularly in the sandy edges of rivers and estuaries.
The larval stage of the biting midge life cycle can last up to a year, often through the winter, depending on the climate. The larvae grow in the debris at the bottom of standing water, and they play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to break down leaves and other organic material. As the larvae mature, they take on a pink colour and gradually turn red, earning them the name "blood worms". This colour results from the presence of haemoglobin, which allows the larvae to breathe under low dissolved oxygen conditions in the mud.
After the larval stage, the larvae transform into pupae while still in their tubes. After about three days, the pupae actively swim to the surface, and adults emerge several hours later. The adults mate in swarms soon after emerging, and females bite to obtain blood to produce the next generation. The entire life cycle from egg to adult can be completed in 2 to 3 weeks during the summer.
To protect against biting midges, it is recommended to avoid outdoor activities during dawn and dusk, when midges are most active, and to keep vegetation around the house to a minimum to reduce insect-harbouring areas.
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Blow flies breed in decaying carcasses
Blow flies, also known as bottle flies, are scavengers that breed in decaying carcasses or fresh wounds. They are attracted to dead animals or manure, and can sniff out a dead animal within 20 minutes of its death. Female blow flies can lay up to 180 eggs on the carcass, and the larvae hatch within hours. After feeding on the carcass for about a week, the fly larvae pupate and emerge as adult flies.
Blow flies are a common issue for people living on or near farms, as they are attracted to animals and manure. They are also attracted to decaying garbage, sewage, and faeces, and can transmit certain diseases to people after feeding on infected material. Blow flies can also be a serious pest around dumpsters, barns, kennels, poultry houses, meat processing plants, and landfills.
In addition to breeding in carcasses, blow flies can also breed in other decaying organic matter such as manure mixed with straw, silage, crop residue, hay, grain, and soiled animal bedding. They may also breed in unclean drains, cleaning utensils, and rotting fruit and vegetables.
To prevent blow flies from breeding in your home, it is important to remove any potential food sources such as garbage, sewage, or faeces. Seal all gaps around doors and windows to prevent blow flies from entering, and use sealed compost bins or turn open compost systems frequently to make them too hot for blow flies to breed in.
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Frequently asked questions
The house fly, Musca domestica, is the most common and widespread species of fly in the world. The female house fly can lay over 500 eggs during her lifetime. House flies are considered "filth flies" due to their association with manure and household waste. They breed in moist, decaying organic matter such as manure mixed with straw, silage, crop residue, hay, grain, and soiled animal bedding. House flies can also breed indoors, in unclean drains, cleaning utensils, and garbage bins.
Flies develop from eggs to adults in about 7-30 days, with adult flies living for about 2-9 weeks.
The life cycle of a house fly consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
To prevent fly infestations, it is important to keep your surroundings clean and sanitary. This includes regularly removing and disposing of animal and household waste, using sealed compost bins, and keeping doors and windows closed or screened.
