Flesh Fly
By: Stavan Patel & Archis Ghodke
Diet
Flesh flys feed on a wide range of liquid substances. Larvae infest wounds, carrion or excrement (poop). It aids in decomposition by eating the body like flesh and poop.
Flesh Fly Life Cycle
Flesh Fly eggs may hatch within 24 hours and entire life cycle maybe complete within 1-3 weeks. This varies since there are many different types of flesh flies. After hatching, it goes through its Ist instar which takes around 24-36 hrs, and 2nd instar takes around 14-24 hrs, and 3rd instar takes around 30-72 hrs, and prepupa which takes around 54-192 hrs, and a pupa which takes around 11-17 days.
Geographic Location of Flesh Fly
Flesh Flies have a wide geographical area. They can be found in areas around the house with rotting matter such as garbage cans, compost piles, animal droppings and animal carcasses. They are known to frequently infest industrial buildings like meat processing and packing facilitates.
Characteristics
Flesh flies look like house flies but are usually larger that house flies. They are gray, have a checkerboard pattern at the top of their abdomen. They have three black stripes along the surface of their thorax.
Extra facts cause no cases were found
Red tailed flesh flies are part of the Sarcophagidae family and they deposit living first instar larvae so an abundance of eggs will not be found on anything inhabited by these flies.
Time appears on body
Flesh flies usually appear on the body during initial decay. Initial decay occurs during days 1-3.
Flesh Fly Mating
Flesh fly mating commonly occurs in spring. Flesh fly eggs remain inside a female’s abdomen until they hatch.
Dangers of the Flesh Fly
Flesh Flies are not very dangerous and don't carry any diseases, but flesh fly larvae have been known to burrow into healthy flesh of livestock, and sometimes can cause intestinal infections in humans who consume food contaminated with flesh fly larvae.
Similarities and differences
While all flies may look similar, if you examine a fly closely you can tell the differences between male and female. Both males and females have a reddish "tail" or abdominal end. When comparing males to females, males are more hairy and have more robust front legs.