PEST NAME :  LESSER HOUSE FLY (Fannia canicularius L)

SIZE, SHAPE AND COLOUR :  6mm long with a 12mm wingspan. Grey thorax with 4 longitudinal dark stripes. Extensive yellow patch at the base of abdomen. At rest wings are folded along back. Venation shows fourth vein extending straight to wing margin.

BIOLOGY :  Eggs laid when female is 10 days old. 1mm in length they hatch in 24 to 38 hours. Able to float in a semi-liquid medium. Larval development 8 days and 3 skin moults. Larvae 6mm when full grown. Egg to adult normally 3 weeks. Breed mainly in poultry manure.

PREFERRED FOODS :   All organic matter especially if decomposing or fermenting.

HABITAT :  Exploit proofing defects and will enter any building.  Rest much more than the Common Housefly and often can be seen flying erratically around light fittings.

For more information about different types of flies see below: