Latin: Fannia Canicularis
Next after the housefly, called Musca domestica, the small housefly is the most common in Danish homes. The small housefly is often seen flying around in circles around lamps. In the wild, they also fly like that, but around tree crowns.
Small houseflies have a bouncy way of moving around, which can be annoying, but this means that the small housefly is hard to kill with a slap.
Likewise, the small housefly is known for buzzing, like most other flies does. Although flies themselves do not pose a danger, their presence can be a sign of damage or nuisance in the home. And their buzzing and bouncy way of moving around can be annoying to many people.
Appearance
The small housefly can be mistaken for the housefly, except that the small housefly is obviously smaller.
In fact, a small housefly is only 4 to 7 millimeters long. They have three dark stripes on the chest. If the strips are more evident, it is most likely a female. The hind body of the female is dark gray with a golden shade and is completely egg-shaped.
On the male, the hind body is brownish black with yellowish spots and the shape is elongated.
As a caterpillar, the housefly has a distinct appearance, which makes it easy to recognize. The housefly larva has a flat shape, and it has a tough and grainy skin on the outside. They are also equipped with six rows of thorny, thread-like attachments, which allow the larva to attach itself on several surfaces. However, it can often be difficult to find housefly larvae, as they are typically covered in dirt and sludge because of the attachments.
Biology and behavior
When the housefly lays its eggs, it is typically done in moist and filthy material such as manure or rotting plant parts. Inside, they can also lay eggs in drains from the kitchen or bathroom and similar places where food waste and the like can accumulate.
As with so many insects, the development of the fly is dependent on weather and heat. If the egg hatches during the summer, the fly can be fully grown in just one month. If the small housefly does not complied the transformation in this time, it will instead overwinter as a larva or pupate. Typically, the next generation of small houseflies hatch at the same time during the spring, preferably in May. Likewise, there is also a synchronized hatching in late summer around August, where a larger number of flies may occur.
Damage
Although the small housefly can be a most unwelcome guest in some homes it does not harm houses, furniture, or people. Nevertheless, the mere presence of the fly may be an indicator for other problems. A single fly every now and then is most likely just a fly that has strayed into the home.
Prevention and pest control
It only makes sense, to take action against the flies, if you have experienced several flies in your home.
The small housefly is attracted to garbage and the like, so the best way to control them is by having all drains checked for dirt and sludge, and other places as this can be accumulating in drains.
Flies can occasionally be seen in pet cages if these have not been washed often enough. One can easily find the source of the problem by simply looking for a flock of house flies.
Treatment against small housefly can be done, just as most insects, with insect sprays and similar remedies. You can either use a lubricant or spray against the flies if you have noticed that they flock to a particular location. It is important that instructions on the given product are followed to the letter, and that children and pets are kept away from the area, as these agents can be toxic.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)