House Fly
Musca domestica
The common grey fly found indoors worldwide. It breeds in rubbish, compost, manure and pet waste, and can carry bacteria onto food.
- Size
- 6–7 mm
- Marking
- Four dark thorax stripes
- Breeds in
- Rubbish, manure, compost
- Life cycle
- 1–2 weeks when warm
Questions about the House Fly
How to identify a House Fly
Identification
- About 6–7 mm, grey body.
- Four dark lengthwise stripes on the thorax.
- Red-brown eyes; clear wings.
Where it lives
- Bins, compost, animal manure, chicken runs and pet waste.
- Indoors on food, benches, windows and ceilings.
Behaviour
- Lands on food and waste alike, feeding by softening food with saliva.
- Most active in warm weather; rests on ceilings and cords at night.
Why it matters
Moves between waste and food, so can contaminate food with bacteria.
Breeds quickly: about one to two weeks from egg to adult in warm conditions.
Commonly confused with
More questions about flies
All fly questions →Other fly species
Vinegar Fly ("Fruit Fly")
Drosophila spp.
Tiny tan flies with red eyes that hover around fruit bowls, bins and drains. Often called fruit flies, but different from the Queensland fruit fly, which attacks fruit on trees.
Drain Fly (Moth Fly)
Family Psychodidae
Small, fuzzy, moth-like flies that breed in the organic slime lining drains and appear on bathroom and laundry walls.
Fly guides
Common Brisbane Household Pests
A Brisbane-specific overview of the pests residents meet most often, when they are active, and what the subtropical climate, storms, creeks and Queenslander homes mean for pest pressure.
GuidePest Prevention Checklist
A printable seasonal checklist of simple, low-cost tasks that reduce pests around Australian homes, with the reason behind each step and extra lists for renters, apartment residents, pet owners and Queenslander owners.
GuideUnderstanding Pest Activity After Rain
Why storms and wet weather bring cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes and spiders into homes, what to expect in the days and weeks afterwards, and what to do before and after rain and floods.
Flies by location
More about flies
Flies
Two-winged insects that breed in rotting organic matter. House flies, blowflies, vinegar flies and drain flies each point to a different breeding source, and finding that source is the key to getting rid of them.
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Sources & further reading
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand — food safety and pest control — FSANZ
- Australian Museum — insects and spiders — Australian Museum
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