With the movement of people and housing into prime agricultural areas, flies dispersing from livestock and poultry operations can become a significant public nuisance and health problem, even leading to poor community relations and threats of litigation. The rate of development, which varies with species and environmental conditions, is affected by temperature and moisture levels within the breeding area. Moist manure attracts adult flies and provides ideal breeding conditions. House flies usually are the predominant species present in livestock and poultry operations. House flies are nonbiting flies that breed in fresh manure, decaying silage, spilled feeds, bedding, and other decaying organic matter.
Adults feed on manure and animal secretions with their sponging mouthparts.
Under ideal conditions, they can complete their life cycle in as little as 7 days. On the farm, most generations of flies require about 2 weeks to develop in summer. Eggs hatch in 8 to 24 hours and maggots feed for 4 to 7 days. Mature maggots usually crawl away from their breeding site, seeking a drier environment for pupation. Adult flies emerge in 3 to 4 days and typically live about 3 to 4 weeks.