SIZE, SHAPE AND COLOUR :  6mm long. Wingspan of 10mm. Grey/black chequered abdomen which is slightly hairy. Blackish stripes on thorax. Distance between eyes wide in female and narrow in male. Vein bends sharply before reaching edge of wing.  At rest wings are spread.

BIOLOGY :  Up to 150 eggs laid in batches at a time but up to 5 batches in their lifetime. Larvae (maggots) hatch in 8 to 48 hours depending on temperature.  The larvae have three moults and reach 12mm in length. Larval skin cast turning into a puparium. The adult fly hatches 3 to 4 weeks later.

PREFERRED FOODS :   In any high protein material from animal waste to refuse and food material especially if fermenting or rotting, moist material is favoured.

HABITAT :   Throughout the UK.  Enters food premises through all openings and exploits bad hygiene practices, compactors and refuse storage areas and returns sections ideal.

For more information about different types of flies see below: