An adult housefly lives about 15 to 30 days indoors. It does not live for 24 hours — that myth comes from confusing the housefly with the mayfly, whose adults really do die within a day or two of emerging.
The life cycle is much faster than the adult lifespan suggests. Eggs hatch in 8 to 20 hours, and a fly goes from egg to adult in roughly 7 to 10 days in warm weather. Lifespans differ by species, so it is worth checking how long each kind of fly lives before you assume what you are dealing with.
That speed is why a few flies become an infestation so quickly. One female lays her eggs in batches of 75 to 150 and can produce around 500 in her lifetime, so three weeks of undisturbed breeding is enough to turn a handful of flies into hundreds. Unlike mosquitoes, houseflies do not bite — they feed by sponging up liquids, which is how they move bacteria from waste onto food. Killing the adults you can see with a fly killer spray does nothing about the eggs already laid, so the breeding site has to go too.
Luckily, the lifespan of a fly or a fruit fly can be prevented in an average house by getting rid of the source. The common fly may feast on rotting food, window screens, food sources, food preparation surfaces, or stay in areas where there are warmer temperatures.
If you are a homeowner and you are trying to understand the lifespan of a fly, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will be giving you the right information to eliminate the most common fly infestation problem in your home.
We will also be giving you solutions so you can make the appropriate pest control measures. Most homeowners are unaware of how flies live, so it’s best to get yourself acquainted with the fly lifespan.
How Long is a Fly’s Lifespan?
Okay, so let’s get down to business. What is the life cycle like for house flies and a fruit fly? How long a fly lives depend on whether it’s a male or female fly. House flies/house fly will start off by laying eggs.
First
These eggs go through the pupal stage or the larval stage for about a week before they turn into full adult house flies/house fly. The flies can lay five to six batches of eggs and the average lifespan can be as little as 6 to 10 days.
Second
Within a day, the eggs can turn into tiny flies and in four weeks or less turn into adult flies. If the problem is not eliminated, house flies are known for carrying pathogens on their feet and mouth.
If they get to any food source/food sources or even small grains of organic materials, the food that you ingest can cause lead to some health issues.
Third
So while it’s still early, make sure to get rid of those flies/fly before the problem gets worse. A normal fly can be bad to your health on its own.
How Long Does a Housefly Live: Where Does a House Fly Come From?
Have you ever seen a house fly and wondered where it came from? Well, the short answer is that house flies come from anywhere there are rotting organic matter for them to lay their eggs in.
However, the slightly longer answer is a bit more complicated than that. Flies typically lay their house fly eggs in garbage, manure, or other decaying matter. The female fly will lay up to 500 eggs at a time, and those eggs will hatch within 24 hours.
The larvae, or maggots, will then feed on the decaying matter for 7-10 days before pupating into big flies.
Once they reach adulthood, house flies only live for about two weeks. However, in that short time span they can produce hundreds of offspring. This is why it’s important to keep your home clean and free of potential breeding grounds for these pesky insects.
How Long Does a Housefly Live: How Many Species of House Flies Live?
There are an estimated 4,000 species of house flies worldwide. House flies are relatively small insects, with adults averaging between 6 and 7 mm in length. They are dark gray in color and have four dark stripes on their thorax.
They are also an important food source for many animals, including bats, birds, and frogs. So, while they may not be the most welcome of guests, flies do play an important role in the ecosystem.
How Long Do Flies Live Indoors?
On average, fruit flies live for about a month indoors. However, their lifespan can vary depending on the temperature and availability of food sources. With ample food and warm temperatures, fruit flies may even survive up to two months in indoor environments. Other types of flies such as houseflies or blowflies may live for much shorter or longer periods of time indoors.
If you’re looking for an effective way to get rid of pesky flies, check out our selection of fly traps! Our traps are designed to catch and kill flies, so you can enjoy a fly-free environment.
