by Julie Elick

This fall it seems like we have either more flie’s or the same as usual which means mega flies. We are watching a friend’s home, and noticed just under the kitchen window on the floor, there were approximately 150 flies. Also on the living room carpet, and in the kitchen. No one had been in or out of the house. No windows or basement doors open. It was a real mystery. THEY HAD TO COME FROM SOME WHERE! In talking to her, she said “We have this problem every year!”

So thinking about the mystery, I went to the usual place to find out why, the Internet. I googled 2 questions.

Question #1 How many eggs does a fly produce in any given day?

Each female fly can lay up to 500 eggs in several batches of 75 to 150 eggs over a three to four day period.

The most common reason for flies swarming all over your house is an infestation inside or nearby your home. If you suddenly see a swarm of flies that means dozens of eggs have already hatched and developed into flies. The source is likely inside your house, garage, attic or garden.

Homeowners typically find house fly eggs in moist, decaying organic material like trash, grass clippings, or feces. Elongated and pale in color, they appear in clusters and hatch quickly after being laid by the female fly.

Question #2 How long does it take a fly egg to hatch?

Eggs hatch within 24 hours, and house fly larvae emerge. House fly larvae, or maggots, appear similar to pale worms. Their sole purpose is to eat and store energy for their upcoming pupation. Larvae feed for approximately five days, after which they find dry, dark locations for pupal development.

Houseflies pass through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The life expectancy of a housefly is generally 15 to 30 days and depends upon temperature and living conditions. Flies dwelling in warm homes and laboratories develop faster and live longer than their counterparts in the wild.