When temperatures are warm, maggots feed and develop in the manure for 3 to 5 days. Mature larvae usually burrow into the upper layer of soil to pupate though pupae have been found in dry manure. After a pupal period of 8 to 10 days, a new generation of flies emerges. About 3 to 5 days later, the newly emerged females mate and begin laying eggs. New generations continue to be produced approximately every 2 weeks until late autumn.
Populations increase during periods of relatively high humidity and decline in dry periods.
In late August and early September, the adult face flies enter diapause and begin to seek overwintering sites. One preferred site for overwintering is white frame buildings, many times houses. During the warm days of January and February, large numbers of overwintering flies may become active, clustering near windows. During March and April, the adults leave the overwintering site and return to the fields and pastures. Keeping animals still while applying insecticides can be a problem, and even once applied, insecticides are continually brushed off by grass and weeds and washed away by tears.