page_title: Muscina
section_title: Eggs and larvae
hierarchical_section_title: Muscina / Life cycle / Eggs and larvae
caption_attribution_description: Flies mating (Muscina sp.)
context_page_description: Muscina is a genus of flies that belongs to the family Muscidae, currently consisting of 27 species. They are worldwide in distribution and are frequently found in livestock facilities and outside restrooms. The most common species are M. stabulans, M. levida, and M. prolapsa. Muscina flies commonly breed in manure and defecate on food, which has been linked to the spread of some disease and illnesses. The occurrence of Muscina larvae on dead bodies has led to their regular use in forensic investigations, as they may be used to estimate the time of death. Research have shown the prevalence of certain species of Muscina flies as vectors of diseases such as poliomyelitis.
context_section_description: Flies are completely wingless at the beginning of development. In normal fly production there can be as many as 250 eggs laid by a mature female. The adult female keeps the eggs inside the abdomen until all of the eggs are produced and then lays the eggs through an ovipositor located on the hind end of the abdomen.
  These eggs are very small in size. Female adult flies usually choose decaying matter as sites to lay the eggs. These nutrient-rich areas are ideal for the growth and development of the hatching larvae. In contrast to adult flies, the larvae do not have a definite head. Instead, there are two grasping hooks that they use to cut and tear food. The larvae of Muscina have 11 segments. At the posterior end of the larvae are a set of spiracles. The spiracles of Muscina have spiracular slits that are not straight and exhibit some form of curvature. Larvae use the spiracles to breathe. The spiracles have a number of slits that can be used to determine what instar, or larval stage, the larvae is in; for example, one slit means first instar, two slits means second instar, and three slits means third instar. It has been shown that the environmental temperature has a strong influence on larval development: increasing temperature directly influences the amount of time that the larvae need to complete development.
caption: Muscina flies mating
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