House fly

Description

A household pest of the Muscidae family (Musca domestica) commonly found in North America. House flies have two semi-transparent wings, a black body with tiny tail bristles and a short fleshy proboscis. They feed on decayed matter, plant and animal juices, and are attracted to prepared foods. House flies are a nuisance and transmit diseases (typhoid, dysentery, cholera) and leave black droppings (Fly speck). See also Flypaper.

Synonyms and Related Terms

housefly; Musca domestica

Resources and Citations

• MuseumPest.net at Link

• University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology: House fly

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: Fly. Retrieved June 17, 2003.

• D.J. Borror, R.E. White, A Field Guide to Insects, Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1970