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It may seem that to fly live all summer by harassing people at home, on their patio and over a delicious picnic lunch. But this insects have a shorter lifespan than you may think. Flies are small, winged insects in the order Diptera with over 120,000 species. The most common fly is the house fly, which accounts for 90% of fly encounters in people’s homes. Other flies you may be familiar with are the horse fly, fruit fly and tsetse fly. Two other flying insects that you may not know are also in the Diptera order, the gnat and the midge. Let’s take a look at these flies to learn all about their longevity.
Housefly: Lifespan 28-30 days
Houseflies are the most common type of fly and can be recognized by their two wings, six legs, large reddish brown eyes and stripes on the thorax. Houseflies are about the size of a fingernail, with the females being slightly larger than the males. They live in our homes and can fly nuisance around our heads and try to land on our food, but they don’t bite. They can transmit diseases by spreading infected microorganisms. For example, if they land on a pile of rotting garbage, pick up microorganisms on their feet, and then land on your corn cob, you could potentially be exposed to the same thing and get sick in large quantities. The life cycle of flies is similar in most species. They go through 4 cycles as follows:
- egg stage: Females lay about 100 eggs at a time and hatch within 12-24 hours
- Larvae (maggots) Stage: Maggots are small, white and worm-like. During this feeding phase, the larvae will grow to ¾ inch or more. This phase can last 4-7 days.
- doll stage: In the pupa stage, the fly resembles a dark brown cocoon and will develop for 4-6 days at this stage.
- Adult stage: After the pupa stage, the adult fly emerges and can expect a lifespan of 28-30 days. The females are ready to lay their own eggs on average 12 days after reaching adulthood.
The life cycle of the fly is repeated generation after generation with a female fly laying 5-6 batches of eggs during her lifetime.
Horsefly: Lifespan 30-60 days
Horse flies are similar to house flies in that they have a similar lifespan. They are larger than houseflies and can grow as large as a Bumblebee. They get their name from the fact that they are common in the stables and harass horses in the fields and they don’t just harass them, they bite them. Horseflies are leeches and use the protein from blood for their fertilized eggs. They will also bite people. Although the bites are not harmful, they do hurt and can cause itching afterwards. Horseflies’ bites can be dangerous to horses because they carry “horse infectious anemia” which can cause fever and illness in horses. Farmers and ranchers often cover their horses with a heavy blanket to prevent horseflies from biting.
Horse flies have a very different life cycle than houseflies. They lay eggs on the grass in the fall and then the eggs hatch and turn into larvae in the winter. In the spring, the horsefly develops into the pupa stage and appears as an adult fly in early June. The adult horseflies can expect a lifespan of 30-60 days.
Fruit Fly: Lifespan 40-50 days
Fruit flies are the little flies that you can see around the fruit bowl on your counter, especially if you have ripe bananas. These little flies can reproduce quickly! Their lifespan also includes the egg, larvae, pupa and adult stage, but each stage lasts only a few days and they can go from egg to adult in just a week. Once mature, they can live 40-50 days
Tsetse Fly: Lifespan 14-21 days (males); 1-4 months (women)
Tsetse Flies are not a problem in North America as they can only be found in Africa. The female tsetse fly has one of the longest life spans of flies, living from 1-4 months. Tsetse flies are a major problem in Africa because they carry a disease called sleeping sickness. It is fatal if left untreated, but there are drugs available that can cure it, but tsetse animals also attack livestock and other animals, causing those animals to die. Tsetse flies have one of the most unique life cycles. The female tsetse fly has a uterus in which she carries the larvae. The larvae grow inside the female for about 9 days and at birth she burrows into the soil to complete the pupa stage. It will spend 3 weeks to a month in the pupa stage before emerging as an adult. The adult males have a short lifespan of 14-21 days and the females live from 30-120 days.
Mosquito: Lifespan 7-14 days
Mosquitoes are the annoying critters that fly around your face at the bus stop. They are not baby flies as some thought. They are their own kind and have similarities with the housefly. Mosquitoes as a group have one of the shortest life expectancies, some only live for a week. The fungus gnat is common in houseplants or can be found in the lobby of commercial buildings near the houseplants. As their name suggests, they feed on the fungus that is present when these plants are overwatered. Mosquitoes follow a similar life cycle to the fruit fly, lasting one to two weeks. Similarly,
a
dult mosquitoes live 7-14 days.
Mosquito: Lifespan 10-14 days (depending on temperature)
Mosquitoes are flies! They are common summer pests with long slender legs so they can land on you without you noticing. Only the females bite, but the resulting bite can cause an itchy sore for days. This is the most common outcome of a bite, but they can carry diseases such as Zika virus, West Nile and malaria. According to the CDC, “…most people who are infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms.” Mosquitoes have a similar life cycle to houseflies, but the eggs must be laid in standing water. The eggs hatch in the water and the larvae are aquatic, meaning they live in the water until they reach the pupa stage. It spends a few days in the pupa stage and the adult emerges ready to fly. Adult mosquitoes live longer in colder temperatures (14 days) and they live shorter in warmer temperatures (10 days).
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