False Stable Flies
The false stable fly resembles the house fly, but is slightly larger. The third wing vein is bent slightly upward and does not meet the second vein. It is also often confused with the Stable Fly, but is quickly distinguished as the false stable fly does not bite.
- Fly Species
- false stable flies
- Family: Muscidae
- Genus: Muscina
- Species: M. stabulans
- Locations
- North America, usually in urban environments
- Size
- Identify
- Four characteristic dark stripes along the thorax region with a pale spot above the thorax.
- Partially reddish-brown legs.
- The abdomen is either all black, or black with reddish sides.
- Its head ranges in from a dark gray to a whitish hue.
- Third wing vein is bent slightly upward and does not meet the second vein.
- Life Cycle
- The entire life cycle is about two weeks in optimum conditions of warm conditions, but can take up five to six weeks.
- After the eggs hatch, the larval life is 15-25 days and resembles those of the house fly.
- Breeding
- Like the house fly, they lay their eggs on fecal matter and moist decaying organic matter, and similar sites.
- Feeding
- Though false stable flies breed in filth and feces, adult flies feed on various liquids including nectar, tree sap, decaying fruits, and aphid honeydew.
- The larvae on the other hand feed on decaying organic matter, fecal matter, and rotting cruciferous plants.
- They also are predatory on house fly larvae as they near maturity.
- Congregation
- Outdoors and Indoors in unsanitary conditions and other filth.
- Active mostly in the summer months.
- Health Importance
- Can transfer bacterial and viral pathogens and cause disease to humans and animals through livestock feed or human food such as Dysentery, Typhoid fever, Cholera, summer diarrhea, tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmia, paratyphoid, as well as parasitic worms such as: pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
- mastitis to animals.
- Intestinal pseudomyiasis or passing of fly larvae through the digestive system, can occur from consumption of food contaminated with the fly eggs.
- How to Kill / Control
- To get rid of false stable flies:
- Eliminate breeding grounds
- Sanitation
- Exclusion
- Use Fly Traps, Fly Zappers, and Fly Sprays to kill adult flies
- View our Fly Control page for extended information on these methods.
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