The most common house fly is the Musca domestica, but is appropriately nicknamed “the Common House fly.” Other types of house flies include the Red House Fly, the Blue House Fly, and the “Lesser Housefly,” the Fannia Canicularis.
House flies are usually gray in color and less than 1/4 of an inch long. They also typically have four black stripes on the thorax or chest.
Although they can exist almost anywhere (house flies are present on every continent with the exception of Antarctica), areas with hot temperatures are more likely to see these pests year round.
House flies prefer corners and edges or thin objects to rest on. When house flies come indoors, they rest on floors, walls and ceilings during the day. Outdoors, they will rest on plants, the ground, fence wires, garbage cans, etc.
To prevent house flies from bothering you, keep indoor and outdoor garbage cans covered at all times. Take out the trash often, and make sure it is in a tied bag when you do so. Try not to leave food sitting out and wipe down kitchen counters, refrigerator shelves, microwaves, and other surfaces thoroughly and often.
Yes, house flies are major carriers of disease. They are known to transfer over 100 pathogens, including Typhoid, Tuberculosis, Cholera and Malaria. House flies collect these pathogens on their legs and mouths when feeding on feces, trash and other decaying material.